I enjoy turning functional items, and for this project, I wanted to turn napkin rings with an appealing shape that isn’t completely round. The idea came to me: what if the internal and external diameters of the rings were offset, so they didn’t share the same center? This approach results in one side of the ring being much thinner than the opposite side, creating an interesting and dynamic design where the wall thickness varies around the circumference.
The offset produced a distinctive feature — one side of the ring had a much thicker wall. To enhance the design and functionality, I decided to cut away this thicker portion, creating a flat base for the ring. Using a band saw, I removed the excess material, and then smoothed the flat side on a disc sander. The flat base not only adds visual interest but also makes the napkin rings stable, preventing them from rolling off the table with a slight push.
For the material, I chose maple, one of my favorite woods to turn. Its beautiful grain and light color were perfect for this project. I started by cutting 2 1/4” (6 cm) circles from a 3/4” (2 cm) thick maple board. Mounting the disks between centers on the lathe, I turned them to a consistent outer diameter. After shaping the exteriors, I drilled and sanded offset inner holes to about 1” (2.5 cm) in diameter, ensuring the same offset was maintained across all the napkin rings.
To refine the design further, I used the disc sander to taper the rings slightly, sanding the flat sides at a 5-degree angle. This created a thinner, more delicate top portion of the ring while leaving the base thicker and heavier. The result was a balanced and elegant appearance.
I finished the napkin rings by chamfering all the sharp edges with sandpaper and polishing them until they were smooth to the touch. For the final touch, I applied a food-safe walnut oil finish, which highlighted the maple’s grain and gave the rings a warm, light-brown color.
Overall, this was a fun and straightforward project that brought both creativity and functionality to the table — literally! These napkin rings now add a touch of handmade charm to my dining room.
What do you think of this project? Would you try making something similar?
Read Turning Little Things or Woodturning a Lighthouse — my other posts about woodturning.
Leave a Reply