Thread: key ring shapes

G'day Soundman,
That is the main reason I hate turning keychains. Trying to come up with a form that for one, fits the kit, and for two is attractive. For me, the other problem is that you can't sell them for much more than the cost of the kit. For that reason, I no longer buy the kits. I turn the blanks on center, drill a tiny hole and use a snap ring to attach either a cord or chain to the key ring itself.
One idea I had is to use the fishing lure shape (no hooks). I turn the basic form, put it on the scrollsaw for any further shaping, then sand and finish. You can go one step further and add the bill to the end of the lure, and even a spinner on the end if you like. There are a lot of possibilities.

Cheers,

Rick

You could turn simple shapes with smooth lines like tear drop shapes, spheres, cylinders and even like the wasp body shape would be the smoothest of the simple forms for keyrings . I make mine with a bead at the top with a 45 degree fillet sweeping into a cove and then rounding the base over. Will be good to see your photos will take one of mine so you can see what I have tried to explain.
Darren

Originally Posted by soundman

I'm not real keen on "turning stunts" like captive rings and beads and coves just for the sake of it.

Agreed. Especially as being on a key-ring will guarantee they're knocked about. Captive rings don't last long in those conditions, nor do fine beads.

I explored a few shapes before I realised that I like plain shapes that show timber figure to the best advantage, such as teardrops and spindles. I'll generally put a bead of sorts at each end, but rarely a crisp one that'll be battered quickly.

Normally I match them to a pen I'm turning (they're usually the result of a blank shattering anyway ) to create a set, but every now'n'again I make single one by itself as an experiment, such as the ones in the pic. They're not good quality, but are all I have lying around at the mo and are fairly representative of the shapes I've settled on. The fancier one with square ends is a perfume dispenser, BTW.

Very nice work on the Celtic with multiple layers (#2 of 6). But what, pray tell, is the material of #5 of 6? Sorta grey or silver. Looks like a resin casting with something embedded or a progressive buildup.

Joe

It's just a semi-translucent white epoxy with opague black & silver swirls. I'm not a great fan of epoxies, most are way too garish for my taste, but every now and again I see one that I like. What I like most about that 'un is that although the tube shows, it heightens the overall effect.

Originally Posted by soundman

...what do you recon?

How bout a light sabre?

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

It's just a semi-translucent white epoxy with opague black & silver swirls. I'm not a great fan of epoxies, most are way too garish for my taste, but every now and again I see one that I like. What I like most about that 'un is that although the tube shows, it heightens the overall effect.

Thanks, Skew.

Joe

here are some of the shapes i have.

cheers

Bottom row, 3rd from the right... is that just the tube left exposed in the middle and polished up?

Hmmm...

They're pretty neat Soundman, I really like the two in the middle row.

cheers
Wendy

Here's a few of mine I made for a Mother's Day special run at work, mainly simple shapes, but they were only $10 each. I have also done the odd peanut shape and beeds like you Soundman, just don't have the photo.

Yeh there is one turned right down to the brass..... I had a problem so I just kept turning.

I don't mind the tear drop shapes but to get a good one you need a fat blank.

there's a couple that have nice grain but realy look like polished dog turds.

I've got a find something interesting to do.

cheers

Originally Posted by soundman

...a couple that have nice grain but realy look like polished dog turds.

I've got a find something interesting to do...

Ya just did! Ya see, you always come up with the good ideas. This would make a great mother inlaw figt. Take a dog ????, dry it out real good, then impregnate it in plastic. Then just treat it like a regular pen blank. Give it as a gift but don't tell what its made of.

Rance

All right you've done it now.

I will shout the first person to post varified pictures of a stabalised dog ???? pen or key ring ( or any turned item) a free bottle of shelawax glow.

Don't send it to me ... you can keep that one.

Don't think I kiddin'.

cheers