I used dried beans. I gave up the captive ring type after a ring broke on one of them. There were no injuries but it scared me when I thought of what could have happened. I contacted everyone to whom I had given one and replaced it with an enclosed type and asked that the captive ring rattles be used for display only.
TD, I'm curious as to what method you used to enclose the beans. Is this a hollow ball with a handle added or is it a box, joint in the center, with a handle. Either way you've done a nice job. I love the piece of ash you used. It has lots of movement and is very eye catching. Great job and some young child is going to love this one. 8-)
Rev,
It is a hollow ball with handle attached. I started to make it out of one piece of ash but the ball split so I salvaged the handle and used walnut. It is thicker than I would usually make (about 1/4in.) if it was for display but I am hoping it will need to stand up to a great deal of hard use by Miss Gwendalyn Irene Dunstan.
