(By Ron Zdroik)
Ring Making Suppliers – You can find the materials and tools I used at these vendors:
Craft Supplies USA – woodturnerscatalog.com (ring cores, blanks, crushed stone, metal powders, tools)
Woodcraft – woodcraft.com (rings cores, crushed stone)
Ring Supplies – ringsupplies.com (ring cores, blanks, crushed stone, metal powders, tools)
The Opal Dealer – theopaldealer.com (crushed opal, ring cores)
Woodcraft – woodcraft.com (rings cores, crushed stone)
Ring Supplies – ringsupplies.com (ring cores, blanks, crushed stone, metal powders, tools)
The Opal Dealer – theopaldealer.com (crushed opal, ring cores)
Material Options:
Any hardwood that has a tight grain (or any stabilized wood)
– using veneers glued at right angles will greatly increase the strength of a wood ring
Acrylic and other plastic materials
– although I have not tried it, cast epoxy might be another option
Crushed stone (for inlay)
Metal powders (for inlay)
Copper or aluminum wire (for inlay)
– using veneers glued at right angles will greatly increase the strength of a wood ring
Acrylic and other plastic materials
– although I have not tried it, cast epoxy might be another option
Crushed stone (for inlay)
Metal powders (for inlay)
Copper or aluminum wire (for inlay)
Finish options:
Almost any finishing product can be used on the wood rings –
– oil finish and friction polish will give you a satin/semi-gloss finish
– oil finish and friction polish will give you a satin/semi-gloss finish
The following finishes will provide a glossy, water-safe coating for wood rings, although I would consider them water-resistant and not water proof.
– CA glue, polyurethane, lacquer, epoxy
– CA glue, polyurethane, lacquer, epoxy
For acrylic rings or finishing off crushed stone/CA glue inlay, I use:
– Wet/dry sandpaper (400 grit, then 600-1000 grit), rubbing compound and polishing compound – use all with water. You can also use a final wax coat (I have used an automotive carnauba wax).
– Wet/dry sandpaper (400 grit, then 600-1000 grit), rubbing compound and polishing compound – use all with water. You can also use a final wax coat (I have used an automotive carnauba wax).
Photos of the rings I turned during the Monday evening demonstration:
Walnut with copper wire inlay
Cocobolo on stainless steel ring core
Acrylic on stainless steel ring core
Crushed opal in grooved stainless steel ring
Below is the bentwood ring that I was unable to finish during the demo. Made from two strips of 1/32” maple and cherry. The wood is heated in a pot of boiling water for a 2-3 minutes and quickly (and carefully) wrapped quickly around a form and then taped. The form can be anything from a wood dowel, a plastic pipe or a socket, as long as it is a smaller than your ring size. Allow to dry for a day and then saturated the coiled blank with thin CA glue. Let that dry and start turning.
Try giving the rings a turn…be creative!!!
Ron Zdroik
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