How to Cut Out Wooden Bracelets

If a tree falls in the woods, can it be turned into a work of art? The answer is yes. Wooden bracelets are carved from a slab of wood and sold as an artisan craft. Whether painted with color or stained, wooden bracelets are a sought after accessory for their style and durability. Unlike typical bracelets, it is virtually impossible for a wooden bracelet to break from normal wear, and its simple design can be a stand-out detail with any outfit.

• 1

  Choose a type of tree from which to make the bracelet. Using a piece of a fallen tree is an inexpensive method to obtain wood. Beginners will use softer wood such as balsa or birch, while more experienced jewelry makers will opt for harder woods such as eastern white pine.

• 2

  Cut a 1-inch to 3-inch thick slab from the tree. The width should be your desired width of the finished bracelet. The diameter of the slab does not matter. A larger slab can be used to create several bracelets.

• 3

  Draw a circle on the section of the wood you plan to cut with a drawing compass. There should be two circles, one as a guide for the outside edge of the bangle and one as a guide for the inside portion. A quarter inch to a half inch is the ideal width of a wooden bracelet. If you are unsure what size to make the interior, close your hand as if you were sliding a bracelet on and measure the distance around your hand over top of the knuckles at the highest point. This measurement is the circumference of the circle, which can be entered into the formula Circumference = Pi (3.14) x Diameter to determine the diameter of the circle. Divide the diameter by 2, and you will have the radius needed to accurately set up the drawing compass.

• 4

  Cut along both lines using a jigsaw for precision.

• 5

  Attach the 3/8-inch flapper wheel sander to the end of a power drill, and sand the inside of the bracelet until it is smooth. Some wooden bracelets are designed with a curve on the inside; this makes them more comfortable to wear. To create the curve, sand deeper around the center of the interior wall.

• 6

  Sand the outside edge of the wooden bracelet with sandpaper. If the wood is softer, you will need finer grade sandpaper, ideally between 36 and 200 grit. Hard woods may require you to start with 1000-grit sandpaper. Start with the coarsest and shape the bracelet's outside. Continue to work your way through finer grade papers until the wood feels soft.

• 7

  Apply wood stain in the color of your choice in a circular pattern going with the grain of the wood. Allow it to dry. This will make the natural grains in the wood more prominent.

• 8

  Paint wood glaze onto the bracelet, and allow it to dry.