Things You'll Need

Instructions

1

Set the outline of the ellipse at the location on the metal surface of the roof where you need to cut the hole.
2

Trace around the elliptical pattern with the sharp-tipped permanent marker, then remove the pattern from the surface of the metal roof.
3

Put on the safety glasses and leather work gloves.
4

Insert the 3/8-inch drill bit into the chuck of the variable speed drill motor, then place the tip of the drill bit on the inside of the marker line you placed on the metal roof.
5

Drill a hole through the metal roof.
6

Place an 18-TPI jigsaw blade into the jigsaw, as instructed in the tool's operating manual.
7

Slide the jigsaw blade into the hole you drilled in the metal roof, and align the cutting edge of the blade with the outline of the ellipse.
8

Depress the trigger of the jigsaw and push the jigsaw along the marked line to start the cut in the metal roof.
9

Widen the cut in the metal roof by pulling the jigsaw blade back, twisting it slightly inward and pushing the jigsaw blade forward. This method will allow you to cut around the tight corners of the ellipse.
10

Run the fine-toothed half-round around the elliptical hole in the metal roof to remove the sharp edges left from the cutting process.