Padauk Earrings

Made on a Glowforge
1

My daughter sent me a photo of some earrings she liked, except she wanted them in a teardrop shape. That same day I happened across the exact cutout design on a Steve Good lantern pattern, and he noted that it came from Freepik.com. I couldn’t find it on that massive site, so I sent him a donation for the lantern pattern and lifted it from there. This is the end result, currently undergoing wear testing: ('Scuse the sawdust I missed when I blew them off!)

IMG_3406
IMG_3406682×732 161 KB

They look super delicate, but held up well to my sanding and rubbing, so I’m hoping they’ll turn out to be viable!

43 Likes
2

1/8 or 1/16" wood? I’d think 1/8 ought to be durable enough.

2 Likes
3

Very pretty!

3 Likes
4

1/16". Hence the wear testing. :slight_smile:

5

I think if you do them again you should put the grain the other way - but knowing how padauk glows I’m bettin’ those are even more beautiful in soft light!

3 Likes
6

Very Nice! You have my curiosity up wondering what that card they hang from looks like… :no_mouth:
Nice findings too.

2 Likes
7

I cropped it because it was a reject due to the burn marks. :wink: But this is the whole thing. (Actually it’s the second pair I made, but on the same card. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye: )

IMG_3404
IMG_3404609×820 197 KB

15 Likes
8

Very cool Ruth :+1:

3 Likes
9

Love how delicate they look!

2 Likes
10

oh boy, these are gorgeous…I haven’t made earrings yet but it’s time

2 Likes
11

Ooooo, very nice indeed! Have you considered coating them with resin to protect the wood from sweat and weather?

2 Likes
12

That would require me to overcome my fear of resin. :wink:

2 Likes
13

Och, it’s easy and fun—you should try it!

5 Likes
14

Let’s be resinable, it’s not that scary.

8 Likes
15

Fine, when we get to TX you can teach me. :slight_smile:

3 Likes
16

I have been making earrings with intricate patterns from blood wood, purpleheart wood an cherry wood. About half of the purpleheart and bloodwood break before the wire loop is installed. The cherry is much stronger, but not as popular. I have been think about glueing two 1/16" pieces together with the grain crossed, so that they will be much stronger. However, I think that the thicker wood would not present as well for an earring. What do you think?

2 Likes
17

That’s actually what I did here, except the final thickness is a bit less than 1/16. So far it seems to be working!

18

So you glued together two 1/16" pieces and then sanded down?
More work than I wanted to do…

19

They’re also pretty at 1/8" thick. This is the first one I cut, in 1/8" cherry ply. A little Rub 'N Buff on the edges would dress it up, probably.

IMG_3399
IMG_3399597×836 171 KB

5 Likes
20

My experience with paduk is that it is plenty strong enough for anything. a bit of furniture oil after sanding with even 2000 grit before can make an amazing difference

2 Likes