Wooden ring box
This wooden ring box is an easy project to make and you can keep for yourself or give as a gift. It's a great gift idea for a birthday or as a Mother's Day gift.
I started off with an offcut of 69 x 69mm PAR pine, but the hard, resin grain was too difficult to work with and would be almost impossible to sand, so I used 32 x 69mm PAR pine instead. If you are buying a piece of pine for this project, look for feint grain lines, as this is easier to work with.
The blocks are cut 69 x 69mm square on a mitre saw. You can buy 1800mm lengths of 32 x 69mm PAR pine at your local Builders store.
To make the holes in the blocks it is better to use a MAD bit. I bought a complete kit of Tork Craft MAD bits and used a 35mm bit to drill out the holes. A MAD bit has a smaller tip than a spade bit and I find them much easier and safer to use that spade bits. Visit the www.vermontsales.co.za website to see the full range of accessories, attachments and tools that are available at your local Builders store.
Securely clamp each block to your workbench before drilling out the holes. I used my Bosch Compact corded drill as the shaft of the MAD bit won't fit into a cordless drill / driver.
I drilled the holes off-centre to allow for easy access to the ring holders when you open and close, as well as for the support shaft. Leave a complete block for the top.
Drill a hole through the blocks that is the same diameter at a thin dowel that will serve as the shaft that holds the blocks together. I used a 6mm dowel and 6mm wood bit. You won't be able to drill all the way through the blocks, but drill as far as you can, remove a couple of blocks and continue. Only drill three-quarters of the way through the bottom block.
Thread the blocks onto the shaft, wiggling them around and around until it becomes easier to push down. Add some wood glue to the last block to secure the shaft.
Trim the top of the shaft and then use a large nail to split the dowel to hold the top in place. Sand away any excess until the shaft is smooth with the top block.
Use 80-grit sanding pads to remove any uneven edges. You want the blocks to line up on all sides. Sand again with 120-grit and then smooth with 240-grit.
Draw your wording on the top box and then use a Dremel VersaTip soldering iron to burn the wood.
Sand the top again with 240-grit and apply a coat of Woodoc antique wax over all surfaces; leave for 10 minutes and then buff to a satin sheen with a soft cloth.
As an optional touch you can add circular felt pads to the bottom of each ring container.
