Coconut Ring

Hey!

This is a ring I carved out of coconut shell. In the past I also carved rings out of wood and stone. Coconut has the advantage that it's not as fragile as stone and doesn't have weak points like wood does because of its grain. Also, it's relatively simple to shape it. This is an easy project anyone can do; it took me about two to three hours.

Things I used:

• Coconut shell
• fret saw
• circle making template
• rotary tool with sanding drum bits
• sandpaper (100)
• wax paste

The rotary tool could also be swapped with some hand files, but it makes the process so much faster and, in my opinion, also more controlled, since with it, not a lot of pressure has to be applied to shape the shell.

Use a fret saw to cut out a piece of shell that is slightly larger than the ring should be. Chose a spot where the shell is thick (near the ends) and also has a mostly consistent thickness throughout. Use sandpaper to remove the outer fibers.

Next, measure the ring size. I used a circle making template, but you could also just measure the inside of a ring you already have that fits. Draw this diameter on a piece of paper. Add about 5mm, that will be the outer diameter. Cut the paper ring out. Tape it to the outside of the shell, use a marker to carefully scribble over the edges. Once the paper is removed, there will be sharp outlines left.

Use the fret saw again to cut around the outline. Stay next to the line, but not on it. (It's easier to make a rough shape first and sand it perfect later. This reduces the risk of cutting away too much.) Use the rotary tool to remove the remaining marked spots. Be careful since there is not much pressure needed to work on coconut shells. Also focus on holding the rotary tool perpendicular to the ring to get the cleanest shape possible.

To be able to saw out the inside, drill a small hole and thread the sawblade through. Repeat the sawing and sanding here as well. Do test fits regularly so you can stop sanding as soon as the ring fits tightly, but comfortably on the finger.

Right now, the ring has the right dimensions, but still has right angles. Start with carving an even bevel on the outside first (as seen in the second picture). This makes it easier to get an even curve along the whole outside later. Now switch to sandpaper and smooth out the surface. For the inside edges, just use the sandpaper without carving a big bevel first. The ring should now have a curved outside and flat inside without any sharp corners.

The ring can be worn as it is, or a finish can be applied. I used a homemade mix of beeswax and linseed oil. This makes the ring look a lot darker, almost black. The difference can be seen in the two pictures above.

That's it!

Thank you for reading