Can you cut off a titanium ring?
 

Being a geek when I got my wedding band I wanted something different (don't wear jewelry except for a watch) so I got a titanium ring.

When I checked online they say "oh yeah emergency personnel carry tools that can easily cut off a titanium ring"... but that is on the website that sells titanium rings.

So I though I would query the PPOT medical and metallurgy brain trust to get to the bottom of this conundrum!

And no you don't need to post bloody pictures of rings being riped off by machinery thank you very much... that is a different thread, BTDT here.

you are way past lubing it up and yanking?

I got my ring off by removing my finger.
Long story........don't recommend it.

have one of these from the good ol days..
titanium..
probably..
just might take a few extra turns..

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1342203577.jpg

Rika

Not currently stuck... just worried if in an accident (broken finger) if it could be cut off.

I wear a 10.5, we were at a jewelry store and the lady behind the counter commented "wow, your ring is loose... you might want to get a smaller one" (you can't resize titanium).

However depending on temp, humidify, and how many beers I have had some days the ring is tight but other days it feels like it will slip off. Just for giggles I tried a 10.25 at the street fair in Portland last week and it fit with no problem... but it was hot and humid.

Personally I prefer the loose fit because like I said I never wore a ring before.

Yeah, that is what they show on the Internet "anything that can cut off a stainless steel ring can cut titanium" but that is the site where the sell titanium rings.

My first thought was bolt cutter. So I Googled your question:
snopes.com: Titanium Wedding Rings
"Titanium can be cut with a bolt cutter or a jeweler's saw, or indeed by just about any other implement that can slice through stainless steel."

i almost went exotic material and i'm glad i didn't. my wedding band that i purchased not even 3 months ago is now too loose. slips off my finger too easily

Scott, I have an extra ring cutter (like the one pictured) if you want to carry one around with you.

SNORT!!! hahahahha..

my ring is made like a samarai sword..i assume it is cuttable. but i wear mine loose too!

Nope, thats for precious metals. Unless they make another blade that is harder than standard no way. And stainless is way easier to cut than titanium. There are different alloys of titanium and the jewelery grade is more cuttable, but you'll need some patience on your and the person cutting it offs part. It's not easy and takes time. I would use a jewelers cutoff wheel with a wet towel on the ring and your finger to keep it cool.
I'm a jeweler and I know about this stuff.

Titanium is one of the least expensive materials you can get in a ring.

Thank you! Don't know why my search did not come up with that link.

Your Internet kung fu is strong!

Titanium is not super-hard so something that can cut hardened steel should do the trick. The modulus is between steel and Aluminum but it's toughness is good, so as mentioned before it might take a few goes to get through it. It is very notch-sensitive. That means if you get a nick/groove in it then keep working at it, it will fatigue and break. That is why Titanium connecting rods are made so smooth and polished.

Are you saying a common bolt cutter won't work?

It might, but be carefull, if there is a tight ring on a finger, you better be good at keeping the cutter still enough to not hit the finger and or twist it while on the finger OUCH!

when i was working in a jewelry shop as a beginning goldsmith we had a big biker guy come in with a ring that he "jammed" onto his fat finger that was now purple. we tried that tool but his finger was so swollen at that time it would not fit between his finger and the ring. I was able to get a 4/0 saw blade under there and saw through to the outside removing some metal and making the ring a bit tighter :) we then used pliers to open it up and remove it-

Thats how I like to cut them off too, with a blade turned around in the frame,but titanium makes everything so much more time consuming. Not sure those blades wouldn't just dull on titanium.

i know i could have cut through his finger just behind the ring with my saw in about a second and a half though. damn sharp those little blades-

I've removed a lot of my own skin with those little ba***rds.