Need a customiser's help - modifying a plastic ring

[Sleeve]

Howdy all.

I'm in need of some assistance with some modifications to a plastic Star Sapphire ring from the Green Lantern 'Blackest Night' promotion, as seen here on my 5-year-old girl-sized finger.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Star4.jpg

My girlfriend's birthday is in a few weeks and I want to give her one of these rings as part of her present, as the Star Sapphire emblem is her favourite. The problem is the ring is WAY too big for my fingers, and hers are even smaller. So I figured I would make it into a bracelet or necklace.

What I need to to do is cut along the line of the disc-shaped part of the top to separate the two, and drill a hole on either side so as to thread a chain or such through it.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Star3.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Star1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Star5.jpg

The ring is made from a relatively soft, malleable plastic, especially on the 'arms' so as fat fingers can fit in and spread them.

What I need to know is how best to do this, and what tools I should use. I have no customising experience so this is all new to me, thus any advice anyone can offer would be most helpful and appreciated.

Cheers

[lcz128]

From the sounds of things maybe start with a part of the ring (near the bottom) and experiment differing ways of cutting into it. Right now first idea for an easy job is to heat up a blade and cut through the plastic. I'm thinking a box cutter would work (one with an extendable blade of some length) and just heating it using a soldering iron or something. Careful with heat of course. (: oh. An of course, careful with the blades!

Once cut off, you could sand down the underside.

With the drilling you should be able to pick up one of those hand twist drills from a hobby store. Just make sure the kit comes with the right sized drillbit.

Let us know how you go!! :D

[Sleeve]

Well, thanks to some extremely helpful advice from lcz128, a craft knife and boiling water to heat it, I finished the first part as soon as I got home from work. :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Cut1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/Cut3.jpg

It seems I've run into a problem as to how I'll drill through it however. I thought it would be either completely solid or the 'walls' would be really thin, however as you can see they're not only quite thick, but the thickness of the base itself comes down the walls halfway. So I'm thinking Plan B or possilby C.

Plan B involves a heated needle through the backside of the wall, and then threading through one of these loopy, hook #51 things I picked up as a pre-emptive today.

Plan C is similar, except it involves a second cut ring and a loopy, hook thing superglued between them, thus making the final product double-sided. I'll keep you posted.

Oh, and what's the best type of sandpaper to use? From the look of it I don't need to do too much too it, so I'm thinking something that's not too hard on it.

[gamblor916]

Plan C sounds good, if you have a nail file that would be good to sand it down.

[Sleeve]

Plan C sounds good, if you have a nail file that would be good to sand it down.

I was hoping to make it as flat and least cumbersome as possible, but I'm leaning more towards this plan. I tried B before, didn't go too well. And at least if its double-sided it won't look to ugly from the backside.

And cheers for the tip on the nail file. :)

[Sleeve]

Been meaning to post this for a while. gamblor, I took your advice and used a nail file to sand it down and it worked beautifully. My girlfriend loved this. It was the last present I gave her and it made her cry like you wouldn't believe. Thanks guys for the help and advice you offered.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/SSNeck.jpg?t=1284686963

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y233/Mulla_21/SSNeck2.jpg?t=1284686964