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After visiting my grandson I wanted to turn something appropriate for his age. However, he’s 18 months and probably too old for a typical baby rattle. He’s very active so I decided to make a ball. However, a wood ball can be quite heavy and potentially destructive. A hollow ball reduces this risk. However, a little noise to go with the ball. A metal bell does the trick. But since the ball could break, I need the bell to be big enough that he cannot swallow it since everything and anything goes into an infant’s mouth. So I used a larger bell at 1.25″.

To be food safe, I finished the ball with mineral oil and beeswax which turns out to be my sanding media. So, as I sand the ball, I’m finishing it also. A fringe benefit is to soften my hands and scent the air with a little honey smell.

My ball is 3″ in diameter from cedar harvested from a tree in my backyard.

Here’s a link to the octagon chart.

Good turning.