1. Draw up a pattern. (I used CORELDraw to design mine)

2. Select Material – I went with 1/4” thick red oak flatstock.

3. Trace or use spray adhesive to attach pattern to blanks.

4. Drill link holes (I clamped mine between 2 1/2” pieces to make easier to keep standing at a 90. Remember to drill slowly and back off often to remove chips, going slow will help keep your bit from drifting. As you can see my first attempt I had a major bit drift, so I started over.)


(Above: Bit drifted, causing me to start over)

5. Optional – I recommend numbering the links to make easier to keep in order.

6. Use scroll saw to cut out the pieces.

7. Test fit all pieces.

8. Tape center links to piece that will house the insert.

9. Drill holes for pins.

10. Test fit all pieces, make sure pins (brad nails) go in.

11. Using a belt or disc sander, round the ends of links.

12. Sand, sand some more, and when you think you’re done sanding… do it again. I start with 100 grit and work my way up. You want all pieces as smooth as possible. When done sanding be sure to remove all dust.

13. Insert pins (again, just brad nails) – I put a small drop of CA (super-glue) on the underside of each brad’s head, then push to the link as tight as possible.

14. Using very course grit sandpaper on a disc sander, sand of the points of the brads flush to the edge of the links.

15. Finish however you like. As you can see in the final picture I use metal picture hanging wire to hang the piece. I do this so I can use spray poly to finish the entire thing at once. I will be spraying 5 coats (maybe 7) of gloss poly. I will add pictures in the comments later after polying. At that point it will simply be a matter of waiting for my insert to arrive (due the 29th). Once it arrives I’ll put it in then post the finished watch as a project.

Thanks for reading!

A little back story: This project is being made as a gift. When I was 9 my mother was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma (for those that dont know, that is a horrid cancer). I went to a catholic school at the time, and the principal and one of my teachers in particular (both nuns), did sooo much for me emotionally during the 2 1/2 year battle. As well as hosting fundraisers to help my family pay for medical expenses. After my mother died when I was 12, they helped me to get through it so much. I can never thank them enough for what they did for myself, and my family. This project will be a feeble attempt at a thank you, it will be gifted primarily to my former teacher and principal, as well as being for the whole convent.

Image of what will be when complete.

The completed inner prayer.

First border piece.

Border piece with corner and center inlays.

Border piece laid next to inner prayer section, to show what will look like when done. (Also laid a border pattern piece to show how the corner will look)

The image below is the Our Father my grandfather made, just to give a general idea of the grandeur of the final project, as the two prayers are the same size, simply different styles.