Tips on woodworking some beadery gadgets

I can't remember what you'd call them but that other thread reminded me that I would love to have some wooden bead things in my hair. I don't like plastic and am not going to get anything sent to me off the internet, so anyone have some know-how on how to whittle wood to make some dreadlock jewelry?

 

I've got a couple which I made by cutting a section of a dead branch about 2cm diameter and 2 or 3cm long. Got a drill piece the size I wanted and drilled a hole through each. Then just used a small rotary tool and my pocket knife to shape the outside how I wanted it. Which I left looking natural but just kind of slightly rounded the edges.

I'd imagine you wouldn't want something as bulky as these though.
But little rotary tools like a dremel are always hand to use and make it a whole lot easier.

 

this is how i made some dread/jewellery beads. i sanded mine and painted them tho

 

Im not a wood worker at all, if you ever seen the turtle i tryed to make with a chainsaw and a log you would understand.

But i do a lot of bead work. I found that if you go to walmart you can get a nice box of wood beads for like 5 bucks. Im going to guess you get well over 500 in a box. When O Wanted beads i pulled out my beads ffound some wood ones and took a pair of sissors to make the inside a little bigger and poped them on. You can paint them, carve into them, or leave them as is. Sometimes I dont have to carve the middle out at all (each hole is a little diffrent).

 

I don't think wal:devil:mart has made it to Ethiopia yet :biggrinjester:

 

I just blasted mine out an old bit of close grained pine with a dremel and a little sanding drum.

 

Well then you learn something new everyday (not that walmart is not in Ethiopia but that your location is listed next to your post)

 

haha thanks guys. Another little project to try out. I'll spend some time trying it out and let y'all know what I come up with!

 

homemade is way better..that way you remember where you picked it up and remember making it

If I were making some Id probably cut the wood into small pieces and drill the hole...then do some kind of strength test like stomping on them and discard the crappy pieces..then use small hand files for shaping

Id stay away from machines or electric tools ..even the drill ..maybe burn the hole or use a drill bit but no drill...I think doing as much as possible by hand will make the project better

 

I just make them out of molten glass

 

Wood is easy to work, all you need is a knife and maybe fire.

Soapstone is even easier to work, and looks and feels pretty cool. Or if you have any other jewelry knowledge you could make metal ones.

Been meaning to smith myself some "stomp your shit" lookin' beads for some time, but haven't been able to get at it yet.