Sure John,
I start with a 2" cube of figured material for the sphere, and a 3/4" dowel, 6" long for the stem. I used to buy the dowels, but that's too expensive. Now I cut 3/4" square stock about 26" long and make 4 passes on my router table with a 3/8" roundover router bit. I keep the ends square to help register it on the router table. It's not 100% round, but it's all getting turned anyway as long as you can get it through the hole in the block. I bore a 3/4 hole in the block and let 1 1/2" of the dowel extend through the cube. (Drill a 1 1/4" hole in a 2x4 and put the cube on top of the hole. Tap the dowel through and when it hits the bench, you have 1 1/2" through the cube.) I use Titebond to glue them in. That gets you a blank. I grip about 5/8" of the dowel in a chuck and bring the tailstock up to turn. I turn the cube first and don't aim for a perfect sphere. I take at least 1/4 more off the top and bottom to get a slightly flat sphere. I then turn the bottom of the dowel and turn to a point to seperate about 1/2" off the end that is in the live center. Sand and polish the sphere and bottom. Leaving the top of the stem heavy lets you sand pretty agressively and let's you use a friction finish. Now turn down the top of the dowel and stop turning when you get to 1/4" diameter. Sand, polish, and finish the stem. Now turn the end of the stem and cut off with the gouge. Sand off the nub on the top and put a little finish on it. I final wax on the Beal buff system to bring out the highest shine.
I use french earring hoops (cheap ones from Jeffery Allans) to send through the 1/16" hole in the top. I use a 1/4" dowel to reshape the hook and trim to length with a wire cutter. You can also get wires that have a preformed small loop. I use an awl to open the loop, put it through the french earing small loop, and pinch it back with a pliers. Use the 1/4 dowel to form the hook on the wire.
These are a little heavy, but I learned a long time ago that I can't get $.25 more for them if they are light weight. Dick Sing can get $60 for his that only weigh ounces. I sell mine for charity and sell as many as I want to make for $25. I know the price is low, but all the money goes to charity.
My most important advice? Make a bunch of blanks. You will be very popular with these if you give them as gifts!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good Luck, Rich
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