How to Make Key Chains Out of Wood

Key chains come in many styles and colors, and are made from a variety of materials. If you have a talent for working with wood, or even if you're just beginning, you might want to make a homemade key chain from wood. Wood is one of the easiest materials to work with and can be the perfect material for a handmade key chain. You can make your own custom key chain from wood with simple tools and a little patience.

Select the wood you want to use to make a custom wooden key chain. You can use just about any kind of wood you like, though you may want to use harder wood or tree wood. Avoid using balsa. It's easy to carve, but it is a very soft wood that can be easily damaged.

Carve a design from your wood. The complexity of the design depends upon your skills. You may be good at carving and able to carve a miniature animal or symbol. If you don't have carving skills, improvise and cut wood away from a piece of scrap wood to create an original shape.

Drill a small hole at the top of your wooden key chain. Smaller is better at this stage. You can widen the hole later if you need to. You could even dig the hole into the wood, depending upon how thick your key chain is. This is where you will put your key ring.

Sand your key chain smooth using a small piece of scrap sandpaper. It doesn't need to be perfect. You may even want to leave it a little rough to give it a natural look.

Varnish your key chain with clear varnish. It won't take much. You just want to cover it and let it dry. This will keep it protected from weather and give it a longer life.

Fit a metal key ring through the hole you drilled into your wood piece. Ensure the ring fits snugly into the hole. Widen the hole as needed, a little at a time until you have the right fit.