The procedure for making a wooden ring starts by cutting wooden ring blanks to a size of 1/2 inch, drilling the center hole to fit your ring size, mounting it on a mandrel, turning the exterior and polishing it, followed by sealing it using thin CA glue or oil. For the highest durability, dense and exotic woods like padauk, purpleheart and rosewood work the best. The rings will take one or two hours for an expert wood turner.
Handmade rings transform a small piece of exotic hardwood into real jewelry. Quality wood ring blanks make the work easy as it eliminates the need for guessing. In this article, we will take woodworkers and wood turners through all the steps, from choosing ring blanks to the final finish.
What Are Wood Ring Blanks?
Wood ring blanks are little squares or circles made out of hardwood that are thick enough to drill into and make into a ring for the finger. Wood ring blanks either consist of raw, dried wood or stabilized wood with the spaces filled by resin to prevent warping or cracking. Common sizes of wood turning ring blanks are 1-1/2 inches square and 1/2 inch thick.
Which Exotic Woods Make the Best Wood Ring Blanks?
Choose hard, dense, tight grain exotic woods; stability and color are important factors as well.
|
Species |
Approx. Janka (lbf) |
Color |
Ring-making notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1,710 |
Bright red-orange; darkens to brown with age |
Turns cleanly and gives instant color |
|
|
2,020 |
Black fibers in a tan body |
Tough; use sharp tools to avoid fiber tear-out |
|
|
Black and White Ebony |
1,780 |
Pale straw with black streaks |
Striking contrast; may carry fine line cracks, so seal well |
|
2,520 |
Purple; mellows toward brown in light |
Dense and polishes well |
|
|
2,440 |
Purple-brown with dark streaks |
Oily; wipe with solvent before gluing |
|
|
2,620 |
Yellow, aging to golden-brown |
Tough and wear-resistant |
|
|
3,080 |
Deep jet black |
Extremely dense; takes a glass-like polish |
|
|
Spalted Tamarind |
1,670 |
Cream with dark spalting lines |
Spalted zones can be soft; seal with thin CA glue |
What Tools Do You Need to Make a Wooden Ring?
- Dry, crack-free ring blank
- Drill press with Forstner bits, or a lathe
- Ring mandrel and calipers
- Sandpaper, 220 to 1000 grit
- Thin CA glue, or oil and wax
- Dust mask and face shield
How Do You Make a Wooden Ring Step by Step?
Step 1: Preparation of the blank
Look for any cracks and center it. Make sure that the width of your blank is at about 1/2 inch.
Step 2: Drill the center hole
Clamp down the blank and drill a straight hole using a Forstner bit. Size 7 ring requires an inner diameter of 17.3 mm and 19.8 mm for size 10 ring. Drill smaller holes first and work your way to the correct size.
Step 3: Mount and shape the outside
Mount your blank on a mandrel and turn out the outer diameter with light cutting, or you can use a sanding drum on your drill press. Make sure that your walls will be at least 1/8 inch thick.
Step 4: Sand and finish
The finishing process starts with sanding until you reach 600 grit and then coating it with a couple of layers of thin CA glue.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid?
- Thin walls that tend to break down from wear.
- Unsteady or damp wood that moves around once sized.
- Glueing oily rosewood wood without cleaning it first.
- Going without a dust mask since the wood dust from exotic wood is irritable.
Where Can You Buy Exotic Wood Ring Blanks?
Exotic Wood Zone is an exotic turning wood and hardwood supplier based in St. Louis, Missouri. Check out our turning blanks and hobby wood blanks that come in woods such as padauk and purpleheart. To make rings, select stock measuring at least 1-1/2 inches square and consult each product's page for dimensions.
Wood Ring Blanks FAQs
-
What are wood ring blanks?
Small chunks of dried or preserved hardwood that are sufficiently thick to allow for drilling and shaping into a ring. -
What is the best wood for making rings?
Wood species with high density, like padauk, ebony, purpleheart, rosewood, and Osage orange. -
Do you need a lathe to make a wooden ring?
Not at all. The drill press and sanding wheel can be used but a lathe would be much faster. -
How thick should a wooden ring be?
Width is about 1/2" with walls of about 1/8" or more. -
How do you make a wooden ring last?
Choose dry wood and a strong wall with a thin layer of CA glue sealant.
Conclusion, Quick Summary and CTA
A wooden ring comes down to good wood, a clean center hole, a sturdy wall and a sealed finish. Start with dry, dense wood ring blanks, size carefully, sand in stages and seal with thin CA glue. Ready to start? Explore the Exotic Wood Zone turning blanks collection and pick your first set of exotic wood ring blanks today. For more jewelry ideas, read our guide to turning wood into jewelry.