How to Assemble Key Chains
Key chains are not only a means of organizing several keys in one place, but they can also make a personal statement and add a bit of style to your keys. Virtually anything can be made into a key chain, from large objects to prevent key theft, to miniature figurines. They "key" to making any object into a key chain is assembly. With the right technique, you can assemble a key chain in a few steps.
Things You'll Need
- Key chain object
- Small key ring
- Cyanoacrylate glue
- Hot glue
- Hot glue gun
- Sewing needle
- Thread
- Eye screw
- Standard key ring
- Beaded key ring
- Clasp key ring
- Latched key ring
Instructions
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Preparing the Key Chain Object
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1
Choose an object to make into a key chain. For the purposes of this article, we'll use a golf ball.
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2
Check the object to be made into a key chain for any loops where the key ring may be attached. Slide a small key ring onto the loop by passing an open end of the ring through the loop and passing it through the loop until it is secured in place. If there are no loops on the object, as with a golf ball, the small key ring must be glued on or screwed in place.
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3
Glue a small key ring to the golf ball for the main key ring to attach to with cyanoacrylate glue. Cyanoacrylate glue works best with metal and plastic objects. Use hot glue applied with a hot glue gun to attach a small key ring to fabric.
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4
Sew a small key ring to the object with a needle and thread if the object is made of fabric, like a small doll for example.
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5
Screw an eye hook into the object if it is made of wood.
Standard Key Ring
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6
Pry up one of the ends of the standard key ring. This will be the main key ring to which the golf ball and any keys will be attached.
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7
Slide the small key ring attached to the golf ball over the end of the main key ring.
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8
Slide the small key ring down the main key ring until it is secured in place. Attach any keys to the key chain in this same fashion.
Beaded Key Ring
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9
Open the beaded key ring by holding the housing and pulling one of the locked beads free. The housing of a beaded key ring is a cylinder with one side open and two slits on either end. The housing attaches one side of the ring to the other by locking one bead at each end of the ring in each of the housing slits.
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10
Slide the small key ring attached to the golf ball over the beaded key ring, along with any keys to be attached.
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11
Close the key ring by inserting the bead at the end of the chain back into the housing and pressing it in place until it is secured in the slit in the housing.
Clasp Key Ring
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12
Open the clasp key ring by pressing the two overlapping ends of the ring in opposite directions.
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13
Spread the ends of the key ring apart on their swinging hinge.
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14
Slide the small key ring attached to the golf ball over one of the ends of the clasp key ring. Add any keys to be attached in this fashion.
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15
Close the clasp key ring by pushing the ends of the keyring together so they overlap and secure in place.
Latched Key Ring
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16
Open the latched key ring by flipping up the latch lever on the outside of the key ring and sliding the eye portion of the latch off the hook end of the ring.
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17
Slide the small key ring attached to the golf ball over one of the open ends of the latched key ring. Add any keys in this fashion.
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18
Close the latched key ring by sliding the eye portion of the latch over the hood and pressing down the latch lever against the outside of the key ring.
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1
References
- Photo Credit keys image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com
