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Handcrafted wood rings, crosses and art prints.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
How To Make Wood Cross Necklaces
When I make wood crosses, the process is as follows:
1. Take the wood stock and draw out a cross on it. It helps to have a cross template that you can use to trace it out with.
2. Take a scroll saw and cut it as closely as possible. Make sure the platform is level otherwise your lines will have angles.
3. Take it to a belt sander and sand it out closer and even with a medium grit sandpaper.
4. Drill a hole at the top of the cross where the leather cord will go. Use a 1.75 or 2 millimeter drill bit.
5. Then, work at it with a Dremel hand sander (fine grit) on medium speed for a while until your lines are even and smooth.
6. Once, it is as close as I can get it with a Dremel, I then begin to hand sand it with pads.
7. Once all the imperfections are out, I start with 1800 grit sandpaper and work it down with 8 different grades of sandpaper until it gets to 12000 grit. Once it gets to 12000, it looks like glass.
8. As far as finishes go, I go all-natural with Badger Balm or chemically with cyanoacrylate. I will say that the cyanoacrylate is more waterproof and will make the necklace become more durable (especially if you shower with it on). It's a matter of preference.
9. Now that the cross is done, choose a color for your Greek leather cord. Make sure that your Greek leather is 1.5 millimeter. You will also need to choose a color for your snap clasp. All these can either be ordered online or found at your local bead shop. My recommendation is that you do not buy leather from China. Greek leather is strong and it lasts.
10. Take the snap clasp and separate the pieces. 1.5 millimeter Greek leather will not fit in 1 piece. It will barely fit in the other. But you need 1.5 millimeter cording so your necklace will be strong. Use a diamond tipped bit and put it in the Dremel tool. Place the bit into the one smaller side of the snap clasp and drill it out a little, but not too much or you will ruin the clasp.
11. Take your Greek leather and cut it to the length that you desire. Once you do that, take your clippers and cut both ends at angles. The reason for this is, the leather will barely fit in the snap clasp's holes. You will need all the help you can get when you try to run the leather through them.
12. Take the leather and run it through the cross. Make sure it's evenly distributed coming out both sides or your could be too short on one end. Once it's even, tie knots on both ends to hold the cross in place.
13. Now take one end and run it through the hole of one snap clasp about 2 inches or more. Take the end of the leather that you just ran through and while holding the snap clasp, loop under the other leather part (in between the cross and clap) twice and run back through the circles that you have made. Be very steady and carefully create an even knot. Pull on it with a little force to ensure that it is tight. Clip the end of the leather to make it about a centimeter long and then put two or three small drops of super glue on the knot to ensure it never comes undone. Repeat the other side.
1. Take the wood stock and draw out a cross on it. It helps to have a cross template that you can use to trace it out with.
2. Take a scroll saw and cut it as closely as possible. Make sure the platform is level otherwise your lines will have angles.
3. Take it to a belt sander and sand it out closer and even with a medium grit sandpaper.
4. Drill a hole at the top of the cross where the leather cord will go. Use a 1.75 or 2 millimeter drill bit.
5. Then, work at it with a Dremel hand sander (fine grit) on medium speed for a while until your lines are even and smooth.
6. Once, it is as close as I can get it with a Dremel, I then begin to hand sand it with pads.
7. Once all the imperfections are out, I start with 1800 grit sandpaper and work it down with 8 different grades of sandpaper until it gets to 12000 grit. Once it gets to 12000, it looks like glass.
8. As far as finishes go, I go all-natural with Badger Balm or chemically with cyanoacrylate. I will say that the cyanoacrylate is more waterproof and will make the necklace become more durable (especially if you shower with it on). It's a matter of preference.
9. Now that the cross is done, choose a color for your Greek leather cord. Make sure that your Greek leather is 1.5 millimeter. You will also need to choose a color for your snap clasp. All these can either be ordered online or found at your local bead shop. My recommendation is that you do not buy leather from China. Greek leather is strong and it lasts.
10. Take the snap clasp and separate the pieces. 1.5 millimeter Greek leather will not fit in 1 piece. It will barely fit in the other. But you need 1.5 millimeter cording so your necklace will be strong. Use a diamond tipped bit and put it in the Dremel tool. Place the bit into the one smaller side of the snap clasp and drill it out a little, but not too much or you will ruin the clasp.
11. Take your Greek leather and cut it to the length that you desire. Once you do that, take your clippers and cut both ends at angles. The reason for this is, the leather will barely fit in the snap clasp's holes. You will need all the help you can get when you try to run the leather through them.
12. Take the leather and run it through the cross. Make sure it's evenly distributed coming out both sides or your could be too short on one end. Once it's even, tie knots on both ends to hold the cross in place.
13. Now take one end and run it through the hole of one snap clasp about 2 inches or more. Take the end of the leather that you just ran through and while holding the snap clasp, loop under the other leather part (in between the cross and clap) twice and run back through the circles that you have made. Be very steady and carefully create an even knot. Pull on it with a little force to ensure that it is tight. Clip the end of the leather to make it about a centimeter long and then put two or three small drops of super glue on the knot to ensure it never comes undone. Repeat the other side.
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