One of the most common apprehensions people have about tungsten is tungsten rings’ removal. While tungsten is one of the hardest materials out there, tungsten rings are in no way indestructible. Unlike other metals like gold and titanium, which bend under pressure, tungsten rings simply break and shatter.
Can tungsten rings be cut off in an emergency? The answer is yes. Tungsten rings can be removed in an emergency, and most hospitals and medical facilities have the tools that can cut and crack tungsten jewellery. By cracking the ring and weakening its tensile strength, the tungsten ring can easily be removed from your finger and relieve the pressure.
The most common method of removing a tungsten ring is by using vice grips. These apply pressure that can fracture the tungsten ring, a process that is actually faster and easier (and less scary) than it sounds.
To remove the tungsten ring, using the vice grips or locking pliers, once you have the vice grip wrench, close the wrench and adjust its jaw so that it clamps down on the ring.
Next, release the grip and turn the screw in the handle to tighten the vice grip slightly. Then, clamp down on the ring again. The vice grip will apply more pressure to the ring, which causes it to crack. If the ring does not crack, release the vice grip wrench and tighten the screw again. Try to clamp down on the ring again. Keep repeating this step until the ring fractures.
Once the ring is cracked, refrain from sliding the ring up and down your finger. Instead, if your ring has a precious metal inlay, then have this inlay cut away. This process should take more or less 30 seconds.
It is also a good idea to keep the large pieces of the ring so you can send them back to your retailer if they offer a lifetime guarantee.
How Emergency Services Remove Tungsten Rings
If your finger swells and a tungsten ring cannot be removed normally, emergency services use vice-grip locking pliers to crack the ring. Because tungsten carbide is hard but brittle, it shatters cleanly under concentrated pressure rather than deforming.
The process takes seconds. A paramedic or A&E nurse positions the vice grips on opposite sides of the ring and applies pressure. The ring fractures into pieces and falls away from the finger. There is no heat, no cutting, and minimal risk of injury.
Tungsten vs Other Metals in Emergencies
Gold and silver rings must be cut with a ring cutter, a slow process that can take several minutes. Titanium rings are particularly difficult to remove as they resist both cutting and cracking.
Tungsten’s brittleness, often cited as a weakness, is actually a significant safety advantage. The fact that tungsten rings shatter under pressure means they can be removed faster than almost any other metal ring in a medical emergency.
Tips for Removing a Tight Tungsten Ring at Home
Before heading to the hospital, try these methods to remove a tight ring:
- Elevate your hand above your heart for 5-10 minutes to reduce swelling
- Apply ice to the finger for a few minutes to constrict blood vessels
- Use washing-up liquid or hand cream as a lubricant
- Wrap dental floss around the finger from tip to ring, then unwind to push the ring off
If none of these methods work, visit your local A&E department. They have the proper tools and experience to remove tungsten rings safely and quickly.
Shop Related Tungsten Rings
Safe to wear, easy to remove in emergencies:
- 8mm Christian Silver Tungsten Wedding Band with Black Cross Design
- 6mm/8mm High Polished Black Tungsten Ring
- 8mm Mens Black Brushed Tungsten Ring with Polished Green Interior