Ed Reiss
27th March 2009, 03:24 AM
<o></o>Making A Bangle Bracelet
<o></o>
We all accumulate small cutoff pieces from the flatwork we do, and they are tailor made for turning bangle bracelets.
The thickness of the bracelet will, of course, be determined by the thickness of the piece were using. I've made bracelets as thin as 3/8ths of an inch to 1 1/2 inches thick.
The inside average diameters are as follows:
Small = 2 1/2 inches
Medium = 2 5/8 inches
Large = 2 7/8 inches
If the person has an exceptionally small or large wrist, the way to calculate the inside diameter is to measure the distance across the knucles of the fingers.
Let's get started. Using a compass draw a 3 1/4" circle on the blank - this will be the rough outside diameter (pic 1).
Use an awl or ice pick to mark the center point. Rough cut the circle with a jigsaw or on the bandsaw (pic 2)
Using the center point that you marked with the awl or ice pick, place the blank on the tailstock live center and tighted up against the chuck jaws (pic 3).
True up the blank using a bowl gouge or scraper (pic 4).
Using 100mm jaws to hold the trued up blank, mark the inside diameter using a compass. I prefer using an OLFA beam circle cutter to mark the circle because it uses a thin sharp blade to inscribe the line (pics 5 & 6)
Now to cut out the center portion. A regular parting tool will work, but a modified grind (pic 7) makes the job much easier. Using the marked inner diameter line, cut into the blank half way (pic 8). DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH
Stop the lathe and turn the blank around. Mark the inner diameter as you did before, then cut the core out<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o> the rest of the way (pic 9)
Using a 1/2' round nose scraper in shear/scrape mode, take light cuts to clean up the inside. Round over the inside edge (pic 10).
Stop the lathe, turn the blank around and clean up the other half of the inside the same way.
Using the same method as you did for cleaning up and shaping the inside, sand down to 400 grit, then EEE and a coat of Shellawax.
(tutorial continued in Making A Bangle Bracelet - Pt 2)
<o></o>
We all accumulate small cutoff pieces from the flatwork we do, and they are tailor made for turning bangle bracelets.
The thickness of the bracelet will, of course, be determined by the thickness of the piece were using. I've made bracelets as thin as 3/8ths of an inch to 1 1/2 inches thick.
The inside average diameters are as follows:
Small = 2 1/2 inches
Medium = 2 5/8 inches
Large = 2 7/8 inches
If the person has an exceptionally small or large wrist, the way to calculate the inside diameter is to measure the distance across the knucles of the fingers.
Let's get started. Using a compass draw a 3 1/4" circle on the blank - this will be the rough outside diameter (pic 1).
Use an awl or ice pick to mark the center point. Rough cut the circle with a jigsaw or on the bandsaw (pic 2)
Using the center point that you marked with the awl or ice pick, place the blank on the tailstock live center and tighted up against the chuck jaws (pic 3).
True up the blank using a bowl gouge or scraper (pic 4).
Using 100mm jaws to hold the trued up blank, mark the inside diameter using a compass. I prefer using an OLFA beam circle cutter to mark the circle because it uses a thin sharp blade to inscribe the line (pics 5 & 6)
Now to cut out the center portion. A regular parting tool will work, but a modified grind (pic 7) makes the job much easier. Using the marked inner diameter line, cut into the blank half way (pic 8). DO NOT CUT ALL THE WAY THROUGH
Stop the lathe and turn the blank around. Mark the inner diameter as you did before, then cut the core out<o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o><o></o> the rest of the way (pic 9)
Using a 1/2' round nose scraper in shear/scrape mode, take light cuts to clean up the inside. Round over the inside edge (pic 10).
Stop the lathe, turn the blank around and clean up the other half of the inside the same way.
Using the same method as you did for cleaning up and shaping the inside, sand down to 400 grit, then EEE and a coat of Shellawax.
(tutorial continued in Making A Bangle Bracelet - Pt 2)