Bentwood Jewelry Designs Blog

*** New Collection *** Engraved bentwood rings! Custom crafted wood engraved with any inlay! January 12 2018

New Collection of Artisan Engraved Bentwood Ring Inlays!

The Beauty of Burl Wood February 22 2015

A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. Most burls grow beneath the ground, attached to the roots as a type of malignancy that is generally not discovered until the tree dies or falls over. Such burls sometimes appear as groups of bulbous protrusions connected by a system of roe-like roots. Almost all burl wood is covered by bark, even if it is underground. Insect infestation and certain types of mold infestation are the most common causes of this condition.

In some tree species,burls can grow to great size. The largest, at 26 ft (7.9 m), occur in coast redwoods (Sequoia) and can encircle the entire trunk; when moisture is present, these burls can grow new redwood trees.

Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood, prized for its beauty and rarity. Burl wood is very hard to work with hand tools because its grain is twisted and interlocked, causing it to chip and shatter unpredictably. This "wild grain" makes burl wood extremely dense and resistant to splitting.

Many burls resemble an explosion in which the grain grows erratically and these spectacular patterns enhance the beauty of the wood.


Healthy Forests and Bentwood Wood Rings June 04 2014

My bentwood rings can be created from salvaged or remnant lumber which allows a part of that tree to be "reborn" and re-purposed as a customized bentwood ring that will live on as a wearable piece of art and symbolic attachment to our environment.  I strongly believe in protecting and restoring our forests by planting a new tree in America for every bentwood ring I craft through donations to American Forests.
 

 

Why healthy forests matter

Forests safeguard the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the wildlife we love.

  • Prevent Soil Erosion. Forests anchor the ground and intercept water from rainfall and snow, storing it and releasing it slowly. Reduced soil erosion also protects farms, and population centers from avalanches and downstream flooding.
  • Protect Water Quality.  Twenty-five percent of America's water flows from private forests.
  • Protect Biodiversity. Woodlands are the most diverse ecosystems on land. Worldwide, forests provide habitat for 90 percent of the plant and animal species that live on land. Sixty percent of America's at-risk wildlife rely on private forests.
  • Reduce Carbon Emissions.  Keeping forests healthy offers one of the most immediate solutions to addressing climate change in a cost effective way. Around the world, forests and the soil beneath them absorb about a quarter of all carbon pollution that causes global warming.  In the United States, our forests absorb 12 percent of all carbon emissions, and with even better forest stewardship, this could increase to as much as 20 percent.  Private forests store more carbon than national forests and continue to help reduce carbon emissions by supplying renewable energy and wood products.

 

Throughout our history, America’s forests have been a cornerstone of our national well being. For centuries, forests have boosted our economic growth by creating jobs, supplying materials for our homes,  schools,  communities and businesses.  

  • Forestry and other related industries employ 2.9 million people nationwide  
  • Each 1,000 acres of privately-owned forest creates 8 jobs
  • Hunters and anglers spend $76 billion a year, traveling to, and enjoying their hobbies, much of this time spent in forests
  • More than 90 percent of America's wood products come from private forests. 

 

Family forests are a national resource facing a toxic blend of natural and man-made threats. 

  • Development Pressures. Rampant development has threatened private forests for some time, but development’s toll on woodlands has an especially dramatic impact in the last decade.  USDA estimates point to more than 57 million acres of private forest land will be impacted by development from 2000 to 2030.
  • Aging Owner Population. More than 170 million acres of private forests will change hands in the next 20 years, putting these forests at risk of being divided into small tracts or sold to developers, resulting in the loss of public benefits these forests provide.
  • Catastrophic Fire. The oldest threat to forests is still one of the most dangerous; in the last half decade, family forests have been under greater threats from fire than ever before.  More than 400 million acres of private forests are at risk of wildfire.
  • Pests, Pathogens, and Invaders. Invasive species are another threat to our nation’s family forests – nonnative insects, and plants that migrate to non-indigenous forests where they wreak havoc.  More than 27 million acres of state, county and private forests are at risk. 
  • Warming Temperatures. Summers and winters are warmer in every region of the country. Higher temperatures will mean more insect infestations because fewer are killed during mild winters. Less rain and snow can lead to flash floods and dried up aquifers. Higher temperatures also increase risk of catastrophic fire.
  • Vanishing Markets. Traditional markets for forest products, such as construction and paper, are either in decline, or production is being moved offshore. Without a market for forest products, the pressures to sell off woodlands increase.

 

Ways to give:

American Forest Foundation:   https://www.forestfoundation.org/ways-to-give

American Forests:   http://www.americanforests.org/ways-to-give/

 

 


Bentwood constructed wood ring versus laminate or drilled wooden ring November 10 2013

Traditional Wood Rings -

The cheaper variation of a wooden ring is bored out from a solid section of wood or from laminated wood layers glued together. These lower quality rings are typically made on a drill press or lathe and can be mass produced which makes them monetarily cheap but unfortunately cheap in quality as well.  Even with proper care, the life span of these "cookie-cutter" style rings is measured in weeks if not days if you plan to wear your ring.

 

Advantages to a Bentwood Crafted Wood Ring -

A bentwood ring can be crafted much thinner and more narrow than a traditional wood ring without compromising the rings structural integrity as well a making the ring much more comfortable.  

 

A bentwood ring has no short end grain exposed but instead uses the full length and beauty of the woods grain which wraps around the circumference of the ring allowing the design to be thin, narrow and very durable.

 

A bentwood ring requires much less material to craft. The lower quality wood rings actually create more waste than the wood needed for the ring itself. Bentwood rings are environmentally friendly and can be created from salvaged and remnant lumber.


Bentwood rings demand more time, skill and planning but the end result is worth it...a beautiful, unique and VERY durable wood ring that will last for years.

 

Shannon

BENTWOOD Jewelry Designs


What is a bentwood ring and wood ring bending process? June 22 2013

A bentwood ring is a wood ring created by bending thin wood veneers in the direction of the face grain around a form to create an exceptionally beautiful and extremely durable bent wood ring or bentwood ring that will not break like traditional wood rings and can be passed down for generations as an heirloom.   

My specific process involves the ancient art of steam bending wood to any size specified, CA glue to impregnate into the woods grain bonding the veneers as one and then begins the long process of hand trimming, shaping, sanding, finishing and polishing.  The finished product is a one-of-a-kind unique and very durable bentwood ring. 

 

       


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