Is it true that tungsten carbide mens rings are dangerous because there is nothing strong enough to cut them off the finger in case of accident or emergency?

Answer 1

Added by Gmarmalard: Please see "Related Link" below for a video demonstrating the method used for removing tungsten carbide rings with a pair of "Vice Grip" pliers. There's no need for any special cutting equipment and certainly no amputation necessary! As tungsten does not bend, the pressure placed on the ring will cause it to crack or shatter. Because the "Vice Grip" pliers are adjusted slightly tighter in increments the pliers do not clamp down on the finger once the ring breaks.

No, that is false. Tungsten carbide is quite strong, but it can be cut. Furthermore, the loss of a digit is hardly considered immediately life threatening. So even if one was to lose a finger as a result of an emergency in which a tungsten carbide ring could not be cut, the chances the person would die from such an injury are extremely remote. We cut tungsten carbide all day long at our company. It is cut with a silicon carbide blade or a diamond blade. One problem would be the intense heat generated during the cutting. The ring would have to be water cooled during cutting so as to not turn white hot. We use tungsten carbide at work all the time. It is hard, but can be easily broken. If you hit the ring on the side with a hammer it would crack into pieces. If you put a diamond ring on a anvil and hit it with a hammer it would shatter. Similar deal for carbide.

Added by derekg0: Also I've heard of people shattering their tungsten carbide rings on rare occasions, so that might be another way to get it off. I don't have any experience with this, however, just anecdotal evidence