Introduction: Ring With Personalized "Jewel"
I'm having way too much fun making wooden rings ( Green Lantern, Wooden Rings). The whole thing started as just a creative exercise, and now it seems that a lot of people like them, so I asked myself " What makes a better gift than something that someone likes?"
Well, I'll tell you... it's something that someone likes, that's also personalized just for that person. In this case it's my girlfriend, but with a little ermaginimanation (say it out loud, it's fun!) this could be the perfect gift for anyone.
Enjoy!
Because this one is shiny the picture doesn't really do it justice, or I should say because I'm apparently not good enough at photography to be able to take pictures of shiny things without there being weird shadows the pictures don't do it justice.
Step 1: Tools and Materials
Cheap wood carving set
Dremel tool with Workstation and flex extension
Multiple sizes of grinding and sanding bits
Sandpaper - coarse and fine
Sanding block
Materials:
Wood (I buy wood bits by the pound from American Science and Surplus)
Something small and personal to whomever you're making the ring for
Wood stain (I used Golden Pecan)
Clear casting resin and activator
Wood filler (I actually didn't need it this time, but just in case)
Polyurethane
Brushes (unless you use spay polyurethane)
Step 2: Start Carving
I won't go into quite as much detail here, but check out my Green Lantern Ring Instructable if you want more.
First I drill out the center and grind to fit with a Dremel.
Next I use the Dremel to make the basic shape.
Then I sand and sand until i have the shape I want, and flatten the top to I have a surface for my custom jewel.
I used a couple of pictures from the Green Lantern Ring, but the only difference on this one is that the face is square instead of round.
Step 3: Jewel Setting
I used a drill with a 1/2" bit to make a circle in the middle of the square face. I didn't drill all the way through, just deep enough to set my small personal item in.
Then a smoothed out the bowl shape I just made with the Dremel and some sandpaper.
Step 4: Extra Designs
To pretty up the band a bit a decided to cut a pattern all the way through.
I used a small drill bit and my Dremel workstation to drill a pattern of circles. I used a small grinding bit to turn the three holes in the center into a heart shape.
Once again I hand sanded to get everything nice and smooth after drilling.
Step 5: Making the "jewel"
My girlfriend really likes plants, everything from flowers to weeds, and trees to seaweed. I decided to use a tiny dried flower bud inside my custom made "jewel".
I used a small drop of glue to keep the dried bud in the center of the bowl shape.
I mixed a small amount of casting resin and carefully poured it into the bowl completely covering the bud.
The resin I use is supposed to set quickly, but it was still a little tacky after the recommended time so I just let it sit overnight.
Once it was set I used a small blade to clean up the edges and make sure it stayed round.
Step 6: Finishing
I stained the whole thing and let it sit overnight again.
Next I gave it a light sanding, being careful not to scratch the resin.
Gave the whole thing a coat of polyurethane, lightly sanded again, and gave it another coat.
This gives the whole ring a nice shine to it and the stain makes it look much more "golden" than it seems in the picture.
Step 7: Done! Give It to Someone!
My girlfriend was around while I was making this, so it wasn't a surprise when I gave it to her. She still really liked it. We both decided that the hearts are just a tad cheesy, but that it's alright because she likes cute cheesy stuff. and besides, what's not to like about someone making you jewelry that is not only handmade, but handmade and personalized just for you?
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34 Comments
11 years ago on Step 7
What a wonderful heartfelt project!
12 years ago on Introduction
this is very cool, one thing you could do is take some old tree sap, then boil it and put it in the middle of the thing. when it cools it should be shiny and hard and would look amazing
12 years ago on Step 5
lol. Thats a awesome vise you got there. very high tech.
13 years ago on Introduction
ur instructables r gr8! cant w8 2 try them out.
13 years ago on Introduction
Dear aintMichael: Thanks for your instructibles. If you ever get the chance to visit Puerto Rico, try to get some "corozos" (is like lime-size coconut); probably ,these things are the best "wood" to craft wooden rings. Believe me they are so hard, you'll need a bandsaw,and after a few hours of sanding and buffering they show a pristine luster almost like ebony. (Sorry for my broken english, lack of practice)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
I'll have to check those out. Thanks a lot for the tip. The English is fine, better than a lot of native speakers that I know.
14 years ago on Introduction
ERMAGINIMATION!!!! 'tis fun to say, it is.
14 years ago on Step 7
HI I am a one of a kind jewelry designer i have been an artist for 9 years and i consider you an artist very beautiful check me out at www.secretsbeadsnthings.com not everything is up yet but little by little im just so busy with 3 kids and dog husband and art shows i do hop to see more
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
thanks a lot!
15 years ago on Introduction
jeez, the detail on that ring is amazing i'm sad, because when i'm at my parents for the holidays, i have my dad's shop and all the "big" tools i could need, but when i'm home i have my little dremel and no other tools perhaps i'll just make a bunch of blank rings while i'm here, and make them ornate when i get home...
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
That's good planning. Smart.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
For this one I used a Dremel for everything except the starting hole and the start of the bowl shape in the top. It really helps to have the Dremel workstation and the flex-shaft to do the finer work.
15 years ago on Step 6
If you want these to last even longer, don't use a finish that covers the outside of the wood. Things like varathane, varnish, lacquer, etc, harden and sit on the surface of the wood. Eventually, or sooner, the thin layer on top of the surface of the wood will crack chip peel etc. Better finish for something like this is to rub it with a penetrating oil finish, even as simple as sesame seed oil. You can wet-sand with the oil and get a really silky nice finish. ... the finish can be touched up if necessary, without removing original finish if it's oil, if it's some hardening-on-the-surface finish like Minwax (which has its uses as well) the finish needs to be sanded off before refinishing. Also, it's nicer to the skin to use something like sesame oil instead of a plasticky solventy finish. I've made a lot of wooden jewelry, for decades, and even the old pieces that I've seen are still nice. If I had used varnish or lacquer, I think they wouldn't last as well. Wooden jewelry is such a good way to use those knotty scrap pieces that don't work for other projects. The grain on the wood right up next to the knot is really dense and crazy sometimes... I've got pieces of black walnut that look much like tiger-eye stone -- from a piece next to a dense knot. The figure pattern looks like it has 'grain' following each of three axes (plural of axis not axe). Nice instructable.
Reply 15 years ago on Step 6
But you might still prefer varnish, lacquer, etc, if you are going to make a resin casting in the top... to make it all look like one piece. Oil finish is probably only better if the ring is all one piece.
15 years ago on Introduction
do you mind emailing me some instructions? Thanks marbleboy10@yahoo.com
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
ummmm.... these are instructions
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
i mean instruction to other projects
15 years ago on Introduction
Verry cool, you have skill young Jedi.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
now if only i could use the Force instead of a Dremel. Thanks.
15 years ago on Introduction
IT LOOKS LIKE IT MADE OF CHEESE!!! (not to be mean)