Turn a Contemporary

Ring Box

Three wooden tic-tac-toe containers with carved designs on their bases, one small circular lid with a handle, and one light-colored cylindrical container with a matching lid and handle, all on a white background.

Learn how to turn and finish a contemporary ring box with Martin Saban-Smith in this video lesson.

When you are ready, click the ‘Buy’ button to add the lesson to your order.

This ring box is an ideal project for those turners who love decorating their work as much as it is ideal for those who prefer plain items.

As a three or four piece project, you could use two or three contrasting species of wood to complete the project, light and dark, coloured and plain. Or if you are adventurous, why not try turning it using a hybrid blank.

Tools etc Required

For the illustration of this project, we’ll be using walnut for the lid and internal column, and sycamore for the base.

Aside from a lathe, you will also need the following equipment to complete the project. Not all the tools are necessary, but this is the kit I used:

Arrangement of woodturning tools and accessories on a green cutting mat, including metal jigs, drill bits, and wooden blocks.

These instructions if you ordered them! (a);

- Pin jaws (b)
- 2” gripper jaws (c)
- 1x walnut spindle blank 25 x 25 x 70mm (not shown);
- 1x walnut blank 75 x 75 x 90mm (d);
- 1x sycamore blank 75 x 75 x 40mm (e);
- 1x drive and live centres (f, g);
- 1x carbide tool (h);
- 1x Vernier calipers (i);
- 1x jacobs chuck (j);
- 1x 50mm Forstner Bit and 5mm wood drill (k, l);
- 1x Spiral and texturing tool (m);

- 1x 10mm round skew (n);
- 1x 10mm spindle gouge (o);
- 1x spindle roughing gouge (p);
- 1x 3/8” bowl gouge (q);
- 1x point tool (r);
- 1x diamond parting tool (s);
- 1x set of calipers (t)
- For sanding sealer and finishes, I recommend the use of Hampshire Sheen products.

The products listed can be found at too many retailers to mention here. The easiest way to find them is to ask your local wood turning supplier or type the item name into a search engine.

WARNING: Woodturning can be dangerous. Be certain you are of a skill level high enough to attempt this project. Ensure you wear personal protection equipment appropriate to each step of these instructions and follow any instructions for your lathe and other tools according to the manufacturer. The author cannot accept any liability for injury or damage caused to you, others, your workshop or tools.