The danger of wearing a ring?

[Glenn]

What are the dangers of wearing a ring(s) and working with metal, blacksmithing, or welding?
This can include other jewelry such as ear rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.

Add your advice and stories.

[aametalmaster]

I lost my ring finger when i was 17. My class ring got hooked on a VW bumper while i was bumper skiing thru the local drive in resturant. Got it sewed back on and its ok now just a few sizes bigger.

I don't like welding with mine on because it seems to collect hot splatter, you really shouldn't wear any jewerly while working...Bob

[Dr Dean]

Originally Posted by aametalmaster

you really shouldn't wear any jewerly while working...Bob

I agree with Bob, however my wedding ring hasn't been off my finger in 11 years. I now have a callus(sp?) that is thicker than the ring. One thing I never do is to jump off any machinery, that's where most fingers are lost due to a ring. In addition to getting a finger removed keep in mind that a ring is an excellent conductor of electricty.

[agsolder]

The thing about accidents is they are accidental-- so minimize the possibilities going in. No rings, neck chains, wrist watches, ID bracelets, pony tails in the shop. No cowboy boots if you are cutting or welding. Lace-up hightops with steel toes, metatarsal guards, leathern apron and jacket, safety glasses, no synthetic fabrics. Even then danger lurks.... Most unpredictable/accidental ring accident I've heard about was a guy doing a tin roof with a steep slope, lost his footing on the ladder, caught his ring finger on a nail head and lost it....

[Ten Hammers]

I was trained in Aircraft Hydraulics at age 17. U.S.Navy. In the first class we attended, our attention was directed to a small shelf on the wall. Small size Skippy jar was on the shelf ( peanut butter jar for you folks away from USA ). In the jar was a clear liquid ( we were told alcohol but I really don't know ). IN the clear liquid was a fellas finger with ring attached. This ring was fusion welded to a piece of steel hydraulic line ( electrically charged steel hydraulic line ). Ring stuck. This is in an area where access was somewhat limited but could get a tubing cutter and some sort of shears. We were advised that if we wished to wear jewelry, this might be the results ( and of course we were warned about the chance of snagging rings as well ). No doubt in my mind, this information stuck in my head. Years later, I removed my wedding ring after a near miss snag. I wore a wedding ring for I guess 25 years ( of my 32 year current marriage ). I did yes enjoy wearing the ring. Wives will either get over the fact that husbands ( or vice versa ) remove rings temporarily or permantly ( and yes lose them ) due to safety. "But you wear gloves" is not an arguement. I ALMOST lost an index finger in a saw accident but that is another story. I don't wear wrist watches for the same reason mostly ( although lotta bands will break fairly easily ). These will of course be your choices. I ain't EVEN gonna start on body piercings....

[jimmy seale]

my experience was on a crane, i was climbing off the gantry and hung my wedding ring in the ladder, no real damage but was a cut nad had to use pliers to round out to remove. was my bad but it might not have happened if i was wearing gloves, or it may have been worse. it's in the jewelry box and a reminder how lucky i was that day, take head folks, jimmy seale

[Glenn]

I work with photographic chemicals that attack the gold before it works on the silver in the photographic negs and paper. I don't wear rings for that reason.

If the spouse says you must wear a ring to show your love and commitment, that is fine, but maybe at the cost of loosing a finger, or worse? If the relationship is strong, the ring will not make any difference. Where you sleep at night shows your love and commitment. The ring is just a symbol (remember the words way back when).

[HWooldridge]

I've been married almost 27 years and the wedding ring has never been off my finger. At this point, it will not even come off as my hands have swollen over the years. The only thing that happened in that time is a small piece of weld spatter stuck to it once but that was easy to remove. However, I do not wear a wristwatch or other jewelry.

[yesteryearforge]

ive been married almost 38 years and I have never worn my wedding ring since`about the week after the ceremony

Mike Tanner

[sstreckfuss]

I have only been married 4 years but have never taken the ring off. I work 5 days a week on high voltage electric,
860 vdc, I am relegated to shop welder when it is something quick and non-structural (I am not certified). So far the ring has never had a electrical short but has suffered some welding slag with was buffed out by the place I bought the ring...I do thing it adds a degree of increased risk for ripping a finger off, getting a voltage arc etc... but so does working in the field I choose. I am not scared but do respect this choice.