Ball-In-Cage Chain

Ball-in-Cage Chain

Carve a modern take on a classic whittling project By Frank Egholm CARVING THE CHAIN

his is a great project for Step 1: Draw the pattern onto Trelaxing at home, but it's the wood. Then, drill 1/8" (3mm) to also perfect for taking along if 5/32" (4mm)-diameter holes where indicated on the pattern. you find yourself somewhere with a bit of time on your hands. Carve the two cages and Experienced carvers can make it Step 2: free the balls. Use the holes to make as shown, but if you are relatively it easier to remove the excess wood new to whittling balls in cages, I around the balls. Add a decorative would recommend increasing the spiral or a little ball at the end if desired. pattern and blank sizes to make a larger project. (It makes a good Step 3: Carve the small ring. baby rattle.) Carefully remove the excess wood. Then, free the cage link. materials Getting Started MATERIALS: & tools Carve the chain links. You can make this from almost Step 4: • Boxwood or yew, 1" (2.5cm) square: any carvable wood. I carved my Remove the excess wood and carefully 7 1/2" (19.1cm) long free the links. Shape the wood so the chain from a piece of boxwood, • Sandpaper The author used angular shapes become round. these products which is a hardwood with short • Oil finish (optional) for the project. fibers that doesn’t crack easily. I Substitute your Finish the project. Sand choice of brands, use yew for baby rattles. Step 5: TOOLS: the ring and one of the balls. Leave the tools, and materials as desired. other ball with the tool marks on the • Knife surface. Apply an oil finish if desired. • Drill with bits: 1/8" (3mm) to 5/32" (4mm) dia.

2 Whittling | Volume 5 Oval ball-in-cage patterns

Frank Egholm lives in Denmark, where he taught woodworking in a school for several years. He’s the author of Snitte: The Danish Art of Whittling: Make Beautiful Wooden Birds and The Danish Art of Whittling: Simple Projects for the Home. He’s also organizing an annual “Snittefest" whittling festival in Denmark. Visit his website at www.snittesiden.dk.