Sandwhich Style Wood Ring

Most of the time, this style is weak and does not hold very long. But if you take the time and use the right wood, this design can work out very well. I actually prefer the look of the sandwich style ring. There is end grain showing but you can really see all the figure this way. The method I found most crucial is staggering the grain directions as you glue up. I glue these up all at once now and let it sit a few days, which to me, is easier than doing a layer at a time. I make 2 sets for a 9 layer ring like this the grain perpendicular and stagger that 45 degree rotation, making and cross and a diagonal cross, the a layer of veneer perpendicular to the cores grain, the the outer most layer is orientated the same way as the core. You can make as many layers as you want I suppose(I just glued one up of all veneer staggered in every which direction) but you have to have an odd number or it will not work and fall apart. I made this for my girlfriend and this ring is made out of Lacewood(core) Oak veneer (layers1 and 3) Zebrawood veneer (layer2) and Wenge (layer 4). It has chipped in a few spots, but over all has held up very well for being worn daily for about a year.

-- that WOOD be cool..... JL