Bentwood Wedding Rings: How They’re Made

Choosing a wedding ring is a deeply personal decision. For couples seeking an alternative to traditional metal bands, bentwood wedding rings offer a rare combination of craftsmanship, symbolism, comfort, and durability. Handmade from natural wood, bentwood rings stand apart from conventional metal wedding bands in that each one will be entirely unique.

In this guide, you’ll learn how a bentwood wedding ring is made and why bentwood rings are increasingly chosen as eco-friendly, alternative wedding bands.

What Is a Bentwood Wedding Ring?

A bentwood ring is constructed by wrapping a thin strip or strips of wood veneer around a circular mandrel and bonding it into a laminated structure. Unlike solid wood rings carved from a block, bentwood rings rely on laminated grain orientation, which dramatically increases strength and longevity. 

Where a solid wood ring will be compromised in strength due to the weaknesses in the wood grain, a bentwood ring utilises the wood grain to create a strong and durable form, with the grain running length ways around the ring and laminated in layers.

This construction method is widely used in fine woodworking and instrument making and translates exceptionally well to wedding bands designed for daily wear.

Why Bentwood Rings Are Popular for Weddings

Bentwood wedding rings are favored by couples who value:

• Handmade craftsmanship
  
  

• Natural materials
  
  

• Sustainability
  
  

• One-of-a-kind design
  
  

• Comfort for everyday wear
  
  

They are especially popular as:

• Men’s wood wedding bands
  
  

• Women’s alternative wedding rings
  
  

• Matching wooden wedding ring sets
  
  

• Eco-friendly wedding rings
  
  

Materials Used in Bentwood Wedding Rings

Wood Veneer Selection

Common woods used in bentwood wedding bands include:

• Walnut

• Maple

• Oak

• Ebony

• Rosewood

• Elm

Not all woods are created equal, some are more brittle, some have very open grain structure so can split when bending and some do not respond well to the steaming process. Veneers must be thin, flexible, and free from defects. Grain direction is critical, the wood must be bent with the grain running lengthwise around the form of the ring. Some woods bend easier than others, at inGrained Rings we use over 50 different species of woods and have developed different methods for bending more challenging woods.

Adhesives and Finishes

Because wedding rings are worn daily, durability is essential:

• Waterproof resins or high-strength super glues are typically used

• Finishes must resist moisture, oils, and abrasion
  

High-quality finishes also protect against cracking and discoloration over time. We have used many different finishes for our rings, but now favour a flexible CA Adhesive, this gives our rings a fully waterproof, strong coating that can through its flexibility allow for small amounts of wood movement over time.

How a Bentwood Wedding Ring Is Made (Step by Step Basics)

1. Preparing the Veneer

The veneer is cut to a width up to 10mm wide and then steamed to soften the grain and allow for bending around a mandrel. Cracked or brittle veneer is discarded immediately, as defects will compromise the ring’s integrity. The veneer is then bent around a mandrel and held in its new circular form with some tape. It is left like this to dry out fully before use.

2. Forming the ring

A thin, even adhesive layer is applied across the veneer surface. This step is critical, insufficient glue can lead to delamination, while excess glue can cause uneven layering.

For wedding rings, waterproof adhesives are essential due to constant hand washing and environmental exposure.

3. Bending and Wrapping the Wood

A ring mandrel is prepared in the ring size required. The veneer is wrapped tightly around the mandrel under steady tension. Each layer reinforces the next, forming a continuous grain structure around the ring.

This layered construction is what makes bentwood wedding rings significantly stronger than traditional wooden rings.

The wrapped ring is secured using tape and left to cure fully. Full curing may take 12–24 hours depending on the adhesive.

4. Shaping and Inlaying

Once cured, the ring is put on a mandrel and using hand tools turned down to the correct thickness and width on a small lathe. Once the desired width and overall thickness are reached any channels for metal, flower, stone inlays are cut into the ring.

Inlays are slowly glued in place by hand, in the case of stones or flowers for example a small cocktail stick may be used with a drop of adhesive on the end to place each small piece of material into the channel on the ring. This is one of the more time consuming parts of the process but ensures a high quality end finish.

Any inlays are then filed and sanded smooth with the outer surface of the ring.

5. Sizing, and Comfort Fit

Once inlays are cured, the ring is removed from its mandrel and the inside is worked on to get the correct size, interior sanding ensures accurate sizing and a comfort fit.

Precision is essential, wedding rings must fit comfortably for decades. Many people believe a wooden wedding band can not be resized like a metal one, however with a little extra work our rings can be sized up or down by around half a size if required.

6. Sanding and Sealing

The ring is sanded progressively to achieve a smooth, refined surface. The finish is then applied in multiple coats to fully seal the wood, including the interior and edges.

Once this finish has cured the finish is sanded from 240 grit all the way up to an 8000 or 12000 micro mesh abrasive.

The outside is then polished to a high sheen or satin finish depending on customers preference.