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View Full Version : Making Wood RIngs, Need Help/Advice



Scotty2127
17th November 2008, 03:41 PM
Hey, I am new to woodturning, but have had some experience with wood work. I saw some pictures of some really beautiful wooden rings, (as in rings you wear on your finger, not captive rings on other turned projects) and I wanted to learn how to make them. I trawled the internet, without finding anything too helpful.
This Article (http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_jewelry/article/0,,DIY_13762_5080900,00.html)was most helpful, but I thought that to get a better finish on the ring,
using a lathe would be best. Shaping the ring as well as finishing would be easier, right?

I have no real idea about doing this, I thought maybe the best way to do it would be to use a spade bit that is smaller than the finished ring size to drill the whole, then turn it on the lathe to finish the outside, then sand inside to get desired size. My only concern was getting a mandrel for my lathe big enough to turn the rings on (being rings, 15, 16, 17, 18 mm mandrels would be required). Is this the best way of making rings? Is it possible to do it this way? Are mandrels that size commercially available, or do i need to get my mate who is a fitter/turner to knock me something up?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Here are some links to wood rings. They look fantastic.
Simply Wood Rings (http://www.simplywoodrings.com/wood_ring_gallery/index.html) Hand Carved Wood Rings (http://www.artistreewoodart.com/Rings/wdri.html)
Touch Wood Rings (http://www.touchwoodrings.com/) Wooden Rings & Things (http://www.woodenringsandthings.com/catalog/)

RETIRED
17th November 2008, 05:16 PM
Where in Victoria are you? You don't have to buy mandrels for that sort of work.

Manuka Jock
17th November 2008, 06:09 PM
Hey, I am new to woodturning, but have had some experience with wood work. I saw some pictures of some really beautiful wooden rings, (as in rings you wear on your finger, not captive rings on other turned projects) and I wanted to learn how to make them. I trawled the internet, without finding anything too helpful.
This Article (http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/cr_jewelry/article/0,,DIY_13762_5080900,00.html)was most helpful, but I thought that to get a better finish on the ring,
using a lathe would be best. Shaping the ring as well as finishing would be easier, right?

I have no real idea about doing this, I thought maybe the best way to do it would be to use a spade bit that is smaller than the finished ring size to drill the whole, then turn it on the lathe to finish the outside, then sand inside to get desired size. My only concern was getting a mandrel for my lathe big enough to turn the rings on (being rings, 15, 16, 17, 18 mm mandrels would be required). Is this the best way of making rings? Is it possible to do it this way? Are mandrels that size commercially available, or do i need to get my mate who is a fitter/turner to knock me something up?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Here are some links to wood rings. They look fantastic.
Simply Wood Rings (http://www.simplywoodrings.com/wood_ring_gallery/index.html) Hand Carved Wood Rings (http://www.artistreewoodart.com/Rings/wdri.html)
Touch Wood Rings (http://www.touchwoodrings.com/) Wooden Rings & Things (http://www.woodenringsandthings.com/catalog/)

Scotty , for fine , accurate hole drilling , stay clear of spade bits .
Use twist drill bits , and if possible , in a drill press .

Scotty2127
17th November 2008, 11:29 PM
Thanks. I had heard that spade bits can cause splintering or rough edges. Because i am new to this, i am still trying to set up the workshop/shed. Plans on getting a drill press and band saw, but thats another thread. I am in Geelong, by the way, and could easily travel to surrounding areas.

Ed Reiss
18th November 2008, 02:19 AM
Hi Scotty...welcome to the forums.

Here's a link that might be of help...it's for bracelets, but some of the procedures might apply to turning rings also.

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_content/Turning_Bracelets.pdf

Good luck:2tsup:

rsser
18th November 2008, 07:00 AM
Look at brad point bits or saw tooth bits for drilling in end grain.

I did some napkin rings by drilling the hole past the ring width (on the lathe), shaping most of the outside but not the left edge, sanding inside and out, finishing, then parting off on the left side. Reverse the ring onto a jam chuck, turn and finish the rest.

Texian
18th November 2008, 01:04 PM
Yep. I have done it the same way as Ern. You may need some dial calipers to measure the size as you sand the inside. I would use Forstner bits, but brad points should be fine too.

rsser
18th November 2008, 02:57 PM
I guess with rings for fingers they're obviously a lot narrower than napkin rings. Maybe you could get away with shaping the left shoulder with a spindle gouge and taking it right down to part off. Then think about a method for machine sanding that end inside and out ...

gabacus
24th November 2008, 04:27 PM
hey scotty,

i have been looking at making wooden rings for a while and have previously visited the links you provided above.

the first ring i made was very simple... just drilled a hole in a piece of jarrah and then shaped it by hand... shortly after i made it, it broke :(

after some more reading i found a very important (and in restrospect obvious) piece of information. instead of using a solid block, a few pieces should be glued together with the grain running perpendicular like a piece of ply wood. this adds much needed strength to the design! it also give you the opportunity to add some nice central rings using different woods (just like the ones in the links).

i have made a few of these now and the process is pretty quick. i dont have a lathe but i imagine it would be even faster using one of those.

one more thing i will point out is that i dont believe the rings on the "Touch Wood" site are turned. i think those rings have been made using bent wood lamination. i could be completely wrong here but the thing is the central ring colours do not penetrate to the inter part of the ring! i cant think of any way to do that without bending the wood.

i have made myself a little jig to try and bend some veneer but have not had a chance to use it yet. i will let you know how i go with it (hopefully within the next week or so)