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Unique wedding ring- need help pls

tarbellb

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Im getting hitched! Apparently I am supposed to get wedding bad too... blarg.

Naturally I dont really like or see the need for anything fancy, so I was considering some DIY options. Any help would be appreciated.

Im either thinking I can find a bearing?? or spacer that might fit?

or

Cut down some cool material for a band?

The questions would be:

Does anybody know of a bearing or similar that fits the below dimensions that I can order?

Or

Can someone suggest or provide a small chunk of tube that I can hone into a band?

Luckily the size is pretty easy - 19.4mm (size 9) or 49/64ths or real close to .75" for the ID.

The wall thickness should probably be near .10" or less

I talked to my local metal provider and they only carry DOM .120 wall steel tube, which is .76, almost perfect. But 1" OD seems to large?

Plus I was hoping for something a little more unique material wise? Specialty alloy, SS, Titanium?

Any machinist out there with some scrap pieces of something cool? I can cut just about anything to size. I could even bore the ID to ~3/4" if needed. Dont mind breaking out the handfiles...

PS. I wish I had a mill or lathe to do this myself but its not in the cards.

Pics for inspiration- might do some oxidation or hammer effect?

2m35lok.jpg


34hfkzt.jpg


1045cag.jpg
 
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dogdog

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I think those kinetic rings are cool things. But not too sure any bride to be would love those over a piece of stone.
 

850xpeps

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My ring is similar to the top one but has two reveals around it. Made from tungsten carbide if my finger gets pinched the ring won’t pinch it will break. It was cheap $200 here in Canada.
 

chrism0107

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I have a coworker that wears a silicone wedding band that she and her husband both love
 
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tarbellb

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I have a coworker that wears a silicone wedding band that she and her husband both love

Yeah we are both planning on wearing silicone rings daily, as both of us are pretty active. Dont want to lose a wedding band in the beach volleyball sand, or get it caught on my equipment.
------
$200 is about $150 more then I want to spend on this.
 

fordkid88

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Get one that's beveled on the inside, more comfortable. I found a carbon and ceramic one for 20 bucks on amazon and it opens beers just find. Mine is scratched to he'll and has some slag burns on it but does what its supposed to do
 

Lassen Forge

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BE CAREFUL!

You get something that won't deform or break, and you get it snagged you can lose a finger. Or take the meat off your finger bone (it's called "de-gloving", and yes, that is just about that ugly!). Or play tourniquet because you can't get it off, or split, or broken.

My boss has a black tungsten carbide wedding band, and it is about as badass as you could imagine. And seriously - Considering what this marriage thing will end up costing you over the next 25 years, $200 is chump change! :lol:

Mine is a 22 karat east Indian inlay band with a built in "weak spot" that will break if pulled hard... it originally had 5 stones around it (I'm down to one!), but it has gotten caught no less than 3 times, deforming it. I could ALWAYS bend it to get it off (tho it sometimes still hurt like hell), or worse comes to worse, I could cut it with a pair of dykes or whatnot. Try cutting the inner race of a bearing with Dykes... while it's pinching your finger in half.

Another wears his ring on a "dog tag" ball chain around his neck... something about that really thick scar around his ring finger from crossing a car battery current with his ring. (At least it's not a scar around his heart from... oh, never mind... :evil: )
 

MEngineer

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Look into coin rings, where you punch out the center and form the rest with a sizing mandrel. Any coin will work
They are pretty cool.
 

Lelandwelds

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My ring is similar to the top one but has two reveals around it. Made from tungsten carbide if my finger gets pinched the ring won’t pinch it will break. It was cheap $200 here in Canada.

I have bought tungsten carbide, titanium, and coco bolo rings on the public access side of jewelry trade shows. All were in the $50 to $75 dollar range. Grandkids are fascinated by my rings and car keys. I eventually lose em .

I want to DIY a mokume ring from argentum and silicon bronze for the next one.
 

rsanter

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How about taking a stainless steel nut, drill out the Center to your ring size and bevel and hone the inside for comfort.
When people ask you can always say she thinks I’m nuts
 

DpSyChO

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Look into coin rings, where you punch out the center and form the rest with a sizing mandrel. Any coin will work
They are pretty cool.
My wife bought one of these a couple months ago when we went to the coast on a fishing trip. Guy was set up at a flea market and had "several" to put it lightly, I would guess he had min of 200 of various sizes and finished widths. All of his were out of pre 64 silver coins and some foreign silver coins.
Wife bought one made from a pre 64 quarter that you could make out some of the original quarter features. I think she gave $20 for a ring made out of a quarter that would bring $3 as "junk silver". My guess was the guy was retired and this was his hobby as a little extra $.
They are pretty neat and I've been meaning to give it a try.
 

DpSyChO

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Can someone suggest or provide a small chunk of tube that I can hone into a band?

What ever material that you go with, make sure that it is "safe". Machinist friend made a wedding band when he and his wife got married. I want to say it was something that could be considered exotic such as Inconel. I remember him mentioning that he hoped he never went to the ER for anything that needed to get the ring cut off as it would be a chore for them.

As mentioned above, another friend wears a silicone band and likes it.

Myself, I've been married 18 years and quit wearing my wedding band after 2 months of marriage. I was working on truck I had at the time, I think changing the starter and it snagged on something and skint my finger some when the ring got caught and my hand was still moving, no big deal. The following week I got it stuck in a machine that I was working on (done industrial plant maintenance at time). Arm was full shoulder into the machine trying to get a bolt started that was between a shaft and cam block, very limited space for my large hands, after I got the bolt started and went to pull my hand out my wedding band got caught on a cam finger. I was able to break it free after about 5 min without hurting my finger and have not wore it since. Wife doesnt seem to mind.
 

PugetDude

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... I got it stuck in a machine that I was working on (done industrial plant maintenance at time). Arm was full shoulder into the machine trying to get a bolt started that was between a shaft and cam block, very limited space for my large hands, after I got the bolt started and went to pull my hand out my wedding band got caught on a cam finger.

Most of the manufacturing plants I've been in have a strict "no rings" policy.
Visitors are asked to remove them. If they won't come off easily, they are taped over with several wraps of a bright-colored stretchy adhesive tape.
 

DpSyChO

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Most of the manufacturing plants I've been in have a strict "no rings" policy.
Visitors are asked to remove them. If they won't come off easily, they are taped over with several wraps of a bright-colored stretchy adhesive tape.

This place didnt have a jewelry policy at the time but did have policy of requiring you to wear your hair under cap or in hair net if it was longer than shoulder length so it would not get caught in machines....applied to both men and women. One guy that was working there had a mullet and got pissed that he had to pull it up under cap or wear hair net, I think he may have quit over it.
 
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driftpin

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Having serviced ring-wearers caught or w/rings crushed, (Florida certified firefighter since 1975, now retired, still certified, and a fire service instructor III) you definitely want to ensure you get something that can fracture open if needed. The state of Florida has a ring cutter as a piece of required equipment on EMS vehicles. However, the piece is for malleable soft metals (Isilver, gold, platinum), and woudn't cut through tungsten or titanium.

I think the silicone rings are a great idea, you can always have a "going-out" band.
 

bradleykd

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Mine is tungston-carbide with a wood inlay. I can't imagine making anything cooler. The beveled inside makes it comfortable for opening beer bottles.

Before I took a management role, I always hung it on a hook in my locker when I was changing my boots so as not to get electrocuted or de-gloved.
 

kazlx

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I had two tungsten carbide rings. Flushed one down the toilet on accident and broke the second one. Tried the Qalo silicone ring and then just gave up. I don't even wear one any more. I know I'm still married.

I've made a few titanium ones for friends. If you come down SoCal way, I'd be glad to help you make one.
 
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tarbellb

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Thanks .... I think. Kinda freaked out about my finger. Not so much about the wedding.

Its not about the money. She would be more than happy to spend whatever I asked, its more of a DIY for fun and interest.

--------------

So- anybody have some cool material with a ID around .75" Id be happy to pay for shipping and/or material cost.
 

ovrrdrive

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Myself, I've been married 18 years and quit wearing my wedding band after 2 months of marriage. I was working on truck I had at the time, I think changing the starter and it snagged on something and skint my finger some when the ring got caught and my hand was still moving, no big deal. The following week I got it stuck in a machine that I was working on (done industrial plant maintenance at time). Arm was full shoulder into the machine trying to get a bolt started that was between a shaft and cam block, very limited space for my large hands, after I got the bolt started and went to pull my hand out my wedding band got caught on a cam finger. I was able to break it free after about 5 min without hurting my finger and have not wore it since. Wife doesnt seem to mind.

I'm in the same boat. Going on 22 years and I think I wore my band about 5 times in the beginning. Myself I just never was a jewelry guy. Never owned a ring until the one I was supposed to wear forever and just didn't like it. Funny thing, when I did wear it women hit on me like mad.

I don't even know where it is right now honestly. lol
 

Eslader

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Having serviced ring-wearers caught or w/rings crushed, (Florida certified firefighter since 1975, now retired, still certified, and a fire service instructor III) you definitely want to ensure you get something that can fracture open if needed. The state of Florida has a ring cutter as a piece of required equipment on EMS vehicles. However, the piece is for malleable soft metals (Isilver, gold, platinum), and woudn't cut through tungsten or titanium.

EMS around here told me they could get through my titanium ring. But it still comes off any time I'm going to be doing any sort of hand work. The wood/dinosaur bone inlay helps keep me from taking chances - don't want to wreck the thing. ;)
 

ilovevocs

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its more of a DIY for fun and interest.

I get where you are coming from but unless you have access to a lathe i think you pee'ing in the wind.

Have you tried to wear a thick band? Personally i have never warn jewelry and when i get my ring the fit was as big of a concerns as the aesthetic.


This is my ring.. https://www.etsy.com/listing/560939931/mens-titanium-and-carbon-fiber-ring?ref=shop_home_active_40

Buy two, leave the band you got married so you can never loose it and wear the other one the rest of the time.

I dont wear my ring to work and never in my own shop; my wife isn't insecure about it.

Tried silicon ring but the fit is just weird. Great idea, but the feeling of it is something i couldn't tolerate. Come to find out i like to be able to adjust my ring often and you just cant do it with the silicon.
 

Paperman

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I asked the hospital about it once when they had to cut the rings off my inlaw. Said it was no problem, then I asked them to cut mine off. They were mad when the shavings on my ring were from their cute little saw thingy. For emergency removal of SiC use Vise Grips. alternate 90 deg every squeeze, make them so they just cam over when you use full force of one hand. After a few squeezes it will break.
 
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tarbellb

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Well this derailed quickly

I wont wear something that will A) rip my finger off B) electrocute me C) EMS cant cut off

Thanks guys
 

bp460

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As a former machinist and moldmaker, I have always been impressed with the engineering and craftsmanship of Jeff McWhinney. As an artist and photographer, I admire the functional elegance of his designs. If I actually wore a wedding ring, it would be one of his. Due to my hobbies, work and active lifestyle, I do not wear rings and for that matter, not even a watch. I just don't like the way they feel on fingers and wrist... never have.

My wife has her official engagement ring and we do have a set of stainless steel rings that she paid a total of $10 for. I wear my ring maybe once or twice a year out to dinner if I remember. If My wife ever insists that I get a real ring, it will probably be Model TG-3.

-Brad
 
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steveo1o9

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My buddy does fab work for his motorcycle side business, he put a scrap piece of aluminum in his lathe and made his band for $2. If you know someone with a lathe this is the cheap way to go.

You can easily find titanium rings for $50 and under if you do some googling, mine is titanium with an ironwood inlay that was $200. Its pretty unique and waaaaay cheaper then a jewelry store.

The silver coin rings are cool too: http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-silver-ring-for-25-cents/ Just buy a few silver quarters off ebay for a few bucks and have at it.

Or make your own wooden ring: http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Wooden-Ring/
 
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nes999

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No ring here. My wife knew I'd never wear any jewelry. When we bought her ring and we "rented" mine for the ceremony. It was like renting a tool from the auto parts store. Here is the total purchase price to be refunded when we return it. I don't know if every jewelry store will do it.

It also helps when your wife has dealt with deglovings before.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk
 

DOC-BA

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I have a cheap titanium one, my tungsten ring cracked after it smacked a steel pole. I did wear the outer race of a 6003 (it may have been a 6004) bearing for nearly a year before buying the second one. Also I had some of the silicone rings, our cat eats them if she finds them on the night stand.
 
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