A handmade wooden ring is an antique, but elegant accessory. This ring will give off a bold feel, but is very cheap to make. To make your own wood rings, all you need is a solid block of scrap wood and a drill, vise, and a Dremel tool or belt sander. After marking and drilling holes in the raw material using one of your rings as a guide, gradually sand the wood until it begins to take shape. After that, continue with light sanding to bevel the edges and smooth out any remaining rough spots. Finish by applying a coat of beeswax or natural oil to protect the wood from damage and give it a smooth, glossy shine.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Cutting Wood to Make Rings
Step 1. Choose a strong and solid wood
Since the width of the finished ring will have to be quite thin, choose a type of wood that can withstand heavy sawing, drilling, and sanding. The rich species of teak, African coral (African padauk), mahogany, cocobolo and Brazilian walnut are all good choices for this kind of project. As a general rule, the darker the color, the stronger the wood.
- Softer wood is more likely to crack or break when shaped.
- Look for samples of wood slats at local stores that specialize in home building materials and carpentry. A sizable piece of scrap wood will usually only cost you a few thousand. If you're lucky, you might be able to find some free wood.
Step 2. Make a 3.5 cm square on the wooden block
Measure 3.5 cm from the end of the wood, then draw a straight line down the wide side with a pencil. This line indicates where you will cut the square that will be used as the raw material for the ring.
If the slat you are using is more than 3.5 cm, measure and mark the wood vertically and horizontally
Step 3. Saw a block of wood to form a box
Use a band saw or circular saw to cut along the lines you just drew. Make sure you are sawing by cutting the grain of the wood, not in the direction of it. Otherwise, the rings will be structurally brittle and may break before they are finished. When you're done, you'll get a flat, slender box similar to a coaster.
- This square wooden box is raw material. You will turn it into a finished ring through repeated sanding and shaping.
- If you don't have a chainsaw, go the old fashioned way, using a hand saw, although this will take more time and effort due to the density of the wood.
Step 4. Mark the wooden box where the finger holes will be made
Take a pencil or marker and make a small, thick dot in the center of the square. This is where you will place the tip of the drill bit to make finger holes in the ring.
Don't worry if it's positioned correctly, you'll end up wasting a lot of wood from the outer edges. So, no need to worry about making mistakes
Part 2 of 4: Digging a Finger Hole in a Wooden Ring
Step 1. Choose a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the size of your ring finger
You'll get the best results using a wood drill bit or spade drill bit with a wide end. Compare the drill bit width to the diameter of your ring finger for reference. It should be only slightly smaller than a finger.
- The sharp end of the drill bit will mark where the finger holes are, while the corners will be the outer edge of the ring.
- To make sure that the ring size fits your finger, take one of your rings and insert the drill bit into the hole. The drill bit must fit in the ring hole without touching the side.
Step 2. Clamp the wooden box with a vise or C clamp
Lay the wood flat so that the point you made to mark the finger holes is facing up, then turn the hand crank or adjuster clockwise to tighten the clamp. The clamps will help hold the wood in place so you can concentrate while drilling.
- If you don't have a vise or C clamps, just use pliers to pinch the outer edge of the wood.
- Under no circumstances should you handle the wood with your hands.
Step 3. Drill half way through
Position the tip of the drill bit over the point in the center of the wood and turn on the drill. Just press a little, don't drill until it penetrates. Stop drilling once you've made a small hole with a shallow circle around it.
Drilling through the wood with a shovel drill bit will result in splinters
Step 4. Turn the wood over and finish drilling the hole
Remove the wood from the vise or clamp, turn it over, and clamp it back. Double check that the tip of the drill bit is aligned with the hole. After that, repeat the drilling process from the opposite side, steady the drill until the hole is penetrated.
By drilling through the wood only half way at a time, you minimize the risk of breaking or breaking the wood
Step 5. Sand the inside of the finger hole
Turn on the Dremel tool and insert the rotor head into the hole to polish the surface that will stick to the finger later. You can also smooth it out with folded sandpaper. The inside of the hole should be perfectly smooth, with no visible corners or edges that could scratch the skin.
- If you're doing it manually, start with medium grit sandpaper (about 80 grit) and work your way up to some high grit sandpaper (100-120 grit) for the smoothest texture.
- Don't try the ring until it's completely sanded. If you're impatient, you run the risk of getting stabbed by sharp wood chips!
Part 3 of 4: Sanding and Shaping Wooden Rings
Step 1. Draw a ring shape around the hole
Take a pencil or marker and make a circle by hand about 2-3 mm larger than the inner ring. These two circles will determine the thickness of the ring. There's no need to worry if the circle isn't perfect because the ring will later be sanded into the proper shape.
- For more precise dimensions, draw a circle with the help of a compass.
- Given the risk of damage to the ring, it is not recommended that it be less than 2 mm thick.
Step 2. Cut the corners of the square on the wood
Draw a short line that intersects each corner where it intersects the edge of the outer circle. Then, clamp the ring to the work surface and use a pull saw to cut the corners. If you have a jig that can clamp a small wooden box, you can cut the corners with a band saw or table saw. The sawmill will produce octagon-shaped wood with rough edges.
- Measure, mark, and saw the corners carefully so as not to cut the ring body.
- Wear protective eyewear, make sure the wood is clamped securely with clamps or a jig, and be careful when cutting corners.
Step 3. Sand the ring into a final shape
Hold the outer ring lightly on the Dremel tool or belt sander. Gradually rotate the ring to ensure it is as even and symmetrical as possible. Continue sanding the ring a little at a time using the outer ring line as a guide. Don't press too hard. Remember, you can always sand it again if you need to, but you can't get it back in shape if it's already damaged.
Work carefully and patiently. The ring-forming process is the longest part and it will take some time for the results to be to your liking
Part 4 of 4: Completing the Making of the Wooden Ring
Step 1. Tilt the edges of the ring
Once you are satisfied with the basic shape of the ring, tilt it about 30-45° and press gently with an emery machine or Dremel tool. Turn the ring until all surfaces are sanded, then turn it over and smooth the opposite side. Again, be careful not to remove too much of the outer edge of the ring.
- Sanding by hand will give you more control over how much wood to remove, just in case you're worried about damaging the ring after all the hard work that went into making it.
- Tilting the rim of the ring will make it less angular and the ring will be more comfortable when you put it on or take it off.
Step 2. Heat the ring to strengthen the wood (optional)
While this isn't mandatory, a few quick hits from the heat gun can provide added durability and make the ring fit better. Place the ring on a heat-resistant surface and aim the heat gun 15 cm above it. Swing the gun back and forth slowly until the edge of the wood begins to smoke or darken.
Exposure to intense heat will make the fibers in the wood shrivel up, making it stronger
Step 3. Apply a coat of oil or wax to preserve the wood
Dab a small amount of beeswax, linseed oil, walnut oil, or tung oil with a clean cloth and rub it into and out of the finished ring. Wipe off any excess oil or wax and let the finish (finish) sit for a few minutes to dry before trying on the ring. Once polished, you can wear your ring in almost any condition without any worries.
- The wax and oil act as a natural barrier against dirt, moisture, and scratches, and will keep the ring from cracking or breaking over time.
- Don't worry if you can't get a good finish-the natural oils released by your skin are enough to coat the ring.
Tips
- Glue thin sheets of wood in different colors to make rings with a more complex layered look.
- Show your artistic skills by engraving a beautiful pattern or design on the face of the ring.
- A handmade wooden ring can be a great unique gift for your friends and loved ones.
Warning
- Do not use softwoods such as pine, spruce, and cedar. The fiber in this type of wood is very weak. You can't even go through the drilling phase without breaking it.
- Do not rush. If you break the wood or end up with the wrong ring size, you have no other choice but to start over from scratch.
- Exercise caution when operating chainsaws, belt sanders, and other machine tools. A slight slip could potentially result in serious injury.
