Turned a cherry baby rattle with four captive rings. I used a template provided by Dr. Jim Finley, a local Forestry professor at Penn State University and an accomplished wood turner. I set up to turn the rattle with four rings--my previous best attempt was three captive rings. Also, my previous attempts had 3/8 inch wide rings while the new template called for 1/4 wide rings Instead of using a ring making tool, I used my thin parting tool to undercut each ring from the right and left sides of the ring. I got the rattle completely turned with all four rings. As I was hand-sanding the rattle I noticed one ring had a knot that went from the top of the ring that all the way through to the interior side of the ring. That made that ring susceptible to cracking. To be safe I used a pair of nippers to crack the ring (it cracked at the knot with very little pressure). I then snapped it into two pieces and removed them from around the rattle. The pictures below are "before" and "after" shots. In the "after" picture you can see the knot at the edge of the break in the ring. Just need some more sanding and a coat of mineral oil to finish up this rattle. I'd use walnut oil, but that might pose an allergic risk.
 |
| For Joe and Laura Lanza's son, Jack |
7" x 2.25" is large enough to be called safe from choking hazard by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. (1.25" is the minimum allowed.) Paul tried to put in his mouth to be sure. It didn't fit.
UPDATE:
Sanded and a coat of mineral oil. Will likely give it another coat of oil. The oil brings out the grain and darkens the wood although cherry wood will naturally darken and redden with exposure to ultraviolet light. Length 7 inches, largest diameter 2.25 inches, smallest diameter in the handles 0.75 inches.
