This is the 5 Biggest Mistakes for Wooden Ring Makers. In this post, you’ll learn the five big mistakes you can make early in your ring making journey and how to avoid them. Enjoy.
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Updated 2023
Biggest Ring Making Mistakes
In the beginning, when you start to make wooden rings, you are going to make a lot of mistakes. That’s OK, and you should expect to make several mistakes as you learn.
One of the things that is the hardest to deal with when it comes to mistakes as a beginner is that you probably have no idea what’s coming your way. Since you don’t really know how to make wooden rings, you don’t know where all the traps are.
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In order to help you out with that, I put together this list of mistakes that new ring makers run into when they first get started. Hopefully this knowledge will get you to avoid some of these common pitfalls, and make better rings right from the beginning.
See Also: Wooden Rings: How to Make Wooden Rings By Hand
Using the Wrong Drill Type
The first big mistake is using the wrong type of drill. By drill I’m referring to the actual drill bit and not the machine itself. Not all drill bits are created equal, and you are going to realize that right away if you start to use the wrong one especially.
Twist bits, which are the most common drill bit that you are probably familiar with are horrible when it comes to making wooden rings. Not only are they difficult to find in larger sizes, they also tear away large chunks of wood sometimes.
Also, the insides of the finger opening are left very rough, and that requires a lot of sanding before you can actually expect somebody to wear that ring on their finger. All in all, they are not very helpful when it comes to ring making.
Instead, you should use Forstner bits, which are specifically designed to drill larger holes with smooth sides and less tear out than twist.
See Also: The Ultimate Guide to Using Forstner Bits
Sizing Your Rings Incorrectly
Another big mistake for early ring makers is not spending enough time on sizing the wooden ring as you should. Of all the different things that a wooden ring has to be, the size asked to be perfect otherwise it won’t be worn.
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Essentially what you need to do is get yourself enough Forstner bits that you can drill nearly any ring size that you need. This means you won’t have to worry about getting it close, because you can hit it straight on with the right drill.
In the event that you can’t hit it dead on, you’ll be able to get close enough that you can sand a little bit to reach the final diameter that you need. This is really easy, because you’ll be so close that the sanding won’t take forever.
See Also: 17 Important Tips on How to Sand Wood
Laminating Wood the Wrong Way
Another big mistake that happens early on is with laminating pieces of wood. After all, the majority of wood rings are made by gluing together several different pieces in a way that is pleasing to the eye.
The way that these different pieces are glued together is no accident. What’s really important to pay attention to along with the beauty is the grain direction. This is because the direction of the wood is what’s going to give each piece the strength it needs.
Pieces of wood like to break along the grain. If you lay up your blanks so that way each piece of wood has its grain perpendicular to the next one, they will lend each other strength in the final lamination. This means your ring will be much stronger.
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See Also: Laminated Wood Ring
Making the Ring Too Thin
The next big mistake is making rings that are too thin. Wood is definitely not metal, and it definitely doesn’t have the same strength for the thickness as metal. This is something to keep in mind, because it will make a difference.
If you make your rings too thin, you can be assured that at some point a handshake that is a little too forceful will end up breaking the ring. This is not a good experience for you or your customer, but it’s also easy to fix.
For most wooden rings, you typically don’t want to go to far under an eighth of an inch in thickness especially if they are only made of wood. Anything thinner than this starts to run the risk of being too fragile for every day use.
See Also: How Durable are Wooden Rings?
Making the Ring Too Thick
Finally, more common than making rings that are too thin is making rings that are too thick. This comes from being nervous about taking off too much material and making a weak ring. I totally understand where you’re coming from, but thick rings are uncomfortable.
You definitely need to find a balance between a thick enough piece of wood that it is strong, and a thin enough piece of wood that it is comfortable. It’s not very hard to find though, and if you stick around an eighth of an inch you will do just fine.
Depending on your lamination, you might be able to go a little bit thinner, but this is something that you will learn over time and as you make many different rings. In the beginning, stick to the standards so you can learn the most about the process.
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See Also: How to Make a Wooden Ring Without Power Tools (7 Steps)
Your Action Assignment
Now that you know all about the common mistakes that new wooden ring makers experience in the beginning, it’s time to get out in your shop and take action. If you’ve been worried about making rings, it’s time to give it a try.
Making rings is a lot of fun, just avoid these common mistakes and you don’t have to worry as much about the process. Put in the time, and just start making the types of rings that you would like to wear.
As you progress in your craft, you will naturally start making different designs, and you will have even more fun. If you have any questions about these ring making mistakes, please contact me and I’ll be glad to answer them. Happy building.
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