Denim Bracelet

[Peter P. Brown]

I haven't posted here in a lot time, but I thought I'd stop back in and look around.

here's my most recent creation...

OK, so it is technically made from jeans, but it is a woodworking project in my mind, and it is worked with all my woodworking tools!

http://i.imgur.com/t2zjTF6l.jpg
Cut up blue jeans in to 4" squares

http://i.imgur.com/3eTdHiKl.jpg
I used several pumps of epoxy and hardener to soak the denim square

http://i.imgur.com/0iDlKNPl.jpg
I used a forstner bit to drill out the inside diameter (2 5/8)

http://i.imgur.com/XjoFW0zl.jpg
It turned great! I was getting long cotton shavings!

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP78ZmNXIxA

Thank for looking

[Rick Gibson]

I've seen pens done with denim but not jeans, and those jeans were in better shape than the ones I wear everyday. :)

[John Beaver]

Love the texture and feel.

Thanks for sharing the video. You should add Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" music to the video.

[Quinn McCarthy]

Neat idea.

Isn't west systems great. I use it for boat parts all the time. Might try an experiemnt in turning.

Nice job.

Quinn

[Jim Hipp]

I wonder if wax paper would work as a release paper.

[Peter P. Brown]

I've seen pens done with denim but not jeans, and those jeans were in better shape than the ones I wear everyday. :)

No doubt! I caught my pocket on a drawer pull and torn a hole in the butt. Can't go around town like that... :)

[Peter P. Brown]

I wonder if wax paper would work as a release paper.

Good idea! I've also been told that just spreading some wax inside the mold would help too. Aluminum foil...not so much.

[John Beaver]

Hey Peter,

I only skimmed your video last night so I decided to watch it again this morning. Curious as to the issues your are having with the rings? I made a pencil bangle and it worked pretty well. Wonder if the forum here could help you.

[Peter P. Brown]

Hey Peter,

I only skimmed your video last night so I decided to watch it again this morning. Curious as to the issues your are having with the rings? I made a pencil bangle and it worked pretty well. Wonder if the forum here could help you.

John
Thanks!

My main issue is that I cannot get a glue to stick well to the paint on the outside of the pencil. I'd rather not sand off all the paint, as I think it would change the look of the ring.

I had someone suggest just roughing up the pencils with some sandpaper to give the epoxy more tooth. I'm going to give that a try and see how it works.

As for your bangle.... What process did you use for it?

[John Beaver]

John
Thanks!

My main issue is that I cannot get a glue to stick well to the paint on the outside of the pencil. I'd rather not sand off all the paint, as I think it would change the look of the ring.

I had someone suggest just roughing up the pencils with some sandpaper to give the epoxy more tooth. I'm going to give that a try and see how it works.

As for your bangle.... What process did you use for it?

Interesting about the paint, didn't see that to be a problem. Although there is a chart that recommends around 80 grid sanding with most epoxies. What epoxy did you use? (I find West Systems G-Flex works best with different materials and wood that can move) I feel like the epoxy will encircle the ring and there shouldn't be an issue with the paint. I wonder if wiping the pencil with alcohol first will help the adhesion. I think sanding will change the look too much.

Did you drill the hole first like you did with your denim bangle?

I made a box out of Melamine and lined it with wax paper. I actually just taped the box together so I could remove it easily. Poured the epoxy in and then added the pencils.

[Peter P. Brown]

Interesting about the paint, didn't see that to be a problem. Although there is a chart that recommends around 80 grid sanding with most epoxies. What epoxy did you use? (I find West Systems G-Flex works best with different materials and wood that can move) I feel like the epoxy will encircle the ring and there shouldn't be an issue with the paint. I wonder if wiping the pencil with alcohol first will help the adhesion. I think sanding will change the look too much.

Did you drill the hole first like you did with your denim bangle?

I made a box out of Melamine and lined it with wax paper. I actually just taped the box together so I could remove it easily. Poured the epoxy in and then added the pencils.

I didn't use anywhere near as much epoxy on the rings as i did on the denim...

I'm going to give it another try with your method (epoxy first then add the pencils) Thanks for all the advice!

-Peter