RINGS

[Heirloom]

The other night I mentioned in the chat room that i made rings with antler and other things when I had the time. These are mostly "Curtiswood" except for the one antler ring in the bttom left. Some have a copper insert which gives more strength, help your arthritis and turns your finger green. They are not hard to make and can fetch upwards of $10 each at a show. Just be sure your tools are very sharp and go easy. You'll break about 1/2 but what the heck, it was a scrap anyways. The ones with the insert, I turn about 6 to 10 at once. Drill for the insert tubing, glue it in like you would a pen and turn the whole piece to size. Then slow the lathe way down or use your bnd saw to cut them off. Finish the shaping and sanding and put your finish on and polish.

[Braz]

Those are cool. What size do you recomend to drill for the rings?

[HaMeR]

Purdy neat Brian.

[Heirloom]

I found the 3/4 works good as an "all around" size. It fits my little finger with all my swollen joints and Miss Kathy's middle finger for her "Special Messages" she sends me, my daughters thumb and Lil'Bit's big toe....LOL If you plan to put a copper liner like I did in there, I use a 7/8 forstner to drill for it. Sand the tubig to rough it up on the belt sander and it slides in tightly. Keep in mind as you work with it when you have the copper in htere, the tubing expands when the wood is thin, it will split if you get it too warm. USUALLY when it's cooling down. I just noticed one of them is cracked in the picture. You may also find it's easier to cut the rings off then grab them from the inside with the step jaw chuck, but the pen mndrel with the rubber bushings works well, just loosen the nut a bit as you go until it's almost loose when you get done. WEAR your Safety Glasses and face sheild too. Them little peices can, have and do come aprt and fly. 

[John_NY]

Oh sure now I gotta try that. Thanks Brian. LOL. Nice looking rings.

John

[Heirloom]

Hey, at least THIS TIME I warned you bout the wood coming apart

[John_NY]

Yeah thanks for the heads up so to speak.  Hey I got 2 calls done from that exploding  dymondwood you sent me. I'll post them in the predator section so you can see them.   

John

[dogcatcher]

Brian instead of the bushings from HUT, try the bushing from a Dremel tool sander, it is a harder rubber and is more stable you can use pieces of small ID pipe on the pen mandrel to expand the sander bushing.  You can also use the bolt/mandrel with the rubber bushing if you have a draw bar on your Jacobs chuck.


Marvin

[Heirloom]

Thanks Marvin!!!! There are more sizes too. GREAT IDEA