Crafting Personal Gifts: A Bottle Opener Key Chain Kit
Welcome to Turning Stitches! I’m Sean, and here, we help woodturners like you learn the craft to start creating fun projects faster. If you're anything like me, gifting can be a challenge—I tend to wait until the last minute and end up picking something forgettable. Hopefully, you're better at this than I am. But if not, you’re in the right place! This blog is all about turning your woodturning skills into handmade, personal gifts that your friends and family will cherish for years.
Today’s project? A Bottle Opener Key Chain Kit —a perfect way to upgrade that old, well-used bottle opener from college and give it a classy, personalized twist. Whether you’re working with wood, acrylic, or other materials, the possibilities for color and texture combinations are endless. This customization allows you to create a unique gift that perfectly matches the recipient's taste. And if you’re a woodturner looking to sell your work, this is a great option for an easy-to-sell, functional item!
What You’ll Need
Before we get started, here are the basics you’ll need for the project:
- Bottle opener key chain kits (https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKBPNKCGM.html)
- Tools and supplies (see links below)
- Wood or acrylic blanks (I’m using a pine scrap)
- Pen jaws, mandrels, and bushing kits (https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKABBU.html
)
I've provided links to the kits, tools, and supplies used in this project. Some of these are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I’ll earn a small commission if you make a purchase.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Bottle Opener Key Chain
Step 1: Preparing the Blank
First, grab your blank. I’m using a pine scrap from the shop. Cut it down to size, leaving it just longer than the pen tubes—about 1 7/16 inches is perfect. Using your lathe with a scroll chuck and pen jaws, drill a 7mm hole through the blank.
Step 2: Gluing the Tubes
Next, glue the tubes into the blank and set it aside to dry. Once it’s dry, head back to the lathe. Use a barrel trimmer to face off the blank and cut it to the size of the tube. This ensures a clean, flush fit for your keychain.
Step 3: Turning the Blank
Now, we’ll assemble the pieces onto a pen mandrel. If you’re like me, having the corresponding bushing kits is a lifesaver—it helps ensure the blank is turned to the correct size. Once everything is in place, you can start turning the blank down to the bushings, adding whatever shape and style you’d like to the handle.
Once the blank is turned, it’s time for sanding. I start with 150 grit, but if you have tool marks, feel free to go coarser. Sand with the grain and work your way through the grits—usually up to 600 or 800 grit, depending on the finish you want.
Step 4: Adding Colors and Finishing
Here’s where the fun begins: adding color! Customize your piece with team colors, a favorite hue, or a stylish design before applying the finish. Once the paint is dry, apply a CA glue finish. Use a paper towel to apply the glue, making sure to rotate it to avoid scratching the finish. Spray lightly with accelerator between coats. I typically apply 3 to 5 coats.
On my project the CA glue made the colors bleed too much so we pivoted on our finishing. We applied a couple quick coats of General Finishes High Performance water based top coat with a brush instead.
Step 5: Polishing
Now it’s time to polish. I use micro mesh or Mirka Abralon pads, starting at 500-600 grit and wet sanding. I keep the lathe at about 2,000 RPMs. After a few grits, I might apply a couple more coats of CA glue, then return to sanding, working up to 12,000 grit. Finally, I apply a CA polishing cream for that final glossy finish.
Step 6: Assembling the Bottle Opener
With the body of the keychain finished, we’re ready to assemble. Create a small jig using a scrap piece (¾” diameter) and drill a 15/32” hole about 5/8” deep. Use the jig to keep your parts aligned as you press the ring end and the opener end onto the blank. Once everything is pressed together, your bottle opener is complete!
Finished!
Now, all that’s left is to crack open a cold one and enjoy your handiwork. Be sure to subscribe to our e-mail list so you don’t miss next week’s project idea. Cheers!
Links to Products and Supplies:
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Amazon Affiliate Links:
Pen Turning Mandrel Kit - https://amzn.to/3Zw1eIW
Pen Turning Mandrel Only - https://amzn.to/3zfJxma
Pen Tube Insertion Tool - https://amzn.to/3XooF44
Barrel Trimming Tool - https://amzn.to/3zn1wXQ
Nova Supernova 2 Chuck - https://amzn.to/3YE1eG6
Nova Pen Jaws - https://amzn.to/3BiMtie
Drill Chuck - https://amzn.to/3WSbIAm
Brad Point Pen Drill Bits - https://amzn.to/3BiYkgd
Micro-Mesh Sanding Pads - https://amzn.to/3Nby2Q5
Mirka Abralon Polishing Pads - https://amzn.to/47uVdOk
Starbond Thin CA Glue - https://amzn.to/3XPBgPl
Starbond Medium CA Glue - https://amzn.to/4evLbiy
Starbond CA Glue Accelerator - https://amzn.to/4d9fvhD
CA Polish - https://amzn.to/47uVdOk
Other great pen resources:
https://www.pennstateind.com/
Bottle Opener kit - https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKBPNKCGM.html
Bushing Pack for Bottle Opener - https://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKABBU.html
