# Is There Any Way To Remove A Too-Tight Ring? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083 "2009-06-08T12:12:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/21 "2009-06-09T05:54:31Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > If he’s having the ring sized up, there will be no cutting. The jeweler has a tool to stretch the ring out. They only cut when sizing a ring down. Yeah, but if I can’t get it off they can’t stretch it out. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/22 "2009-06-09T06:08:12Z")
Why has nobody given the obvious answer of cutting the finger off? 😃 My grandfather did it that way… using a chainsaw … oh, right, that was an accident. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/23 "2009-06-09T06:58:21Z")
I’m going to second the dental floss trick; they actually taught it in my EMT class many years ago, I tried it once on a co-worker with a ring on a swollen finger, and it worked like magic. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/24 "2009-06-09T17:56:33Z")
> [@HelloNinja](#): > > If he’s having the ring sized up, there will be no cutting. The jeweler has a tool to stretch the ring out. They only cut when sizing a ring down. That’s incorrect. They can only stretch a ring less than half a size as I recall. If it’s so tight that the OP can’t get it off, they’ll have to cut it and add to the ring. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/25 "2009-06-09T18:41:42Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > They can only stretch a ring less than half a size as I recall. If it’s so tight that the OP can’t get it off, they’ll have to cut it and add to the ring. I just had this done last month, as a matter of fact. My wedding ring has been shrinking steadily for years, to the point where I could no longer wear it. (wasn’t stuck on my finger, though, so I have no advice there) It’s a gold ring with a double platinum band around the outside. Took it to a JB Robinson’s, and I was a bit apprehensive when they told me thay’d have to cut it… but it looks great. They used white gold to bridge the platinum, but if you weren’t looking for it you’d never be able to tell. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/26 "2009-06-09T19:09:36Z")
> [@Henrichek](#): > > Why has nobody given the obvious answer of cutting the finger off? 😃 My grandfather did it that way.. using a chainsaw .. oh, right, that was an accident. The more modern solution would be to place the hand and ring into a furnace. The temperature needed will be determined by the type of metal – but probably in the range of 1,000 to 2,000 degrees. The idea is to soften the metal to the point where it can be stretched over the meat – er, finger. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/27 "2009-06-09T19:57:46Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > I’m going to second the dental floss trick; they actually taught it in my EMT class many years ago, I tried it once on a co-worker with a ring on a swollen finger, and it worked like magic. It’s actually really cool to watch… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/28 "2009-06-09T22:22:39Z")
A jeweler is experienced at pulling the skin on the finger toward the hand to help slip a ring off. Go to a jeweler and get some help. If you knuckle has actually grown too big, it may be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/29 "2009-06-09T22:34:17Z")
So, **Scissorjack** , any luck with the Windex or dental floss methods? ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/30 "2009-06-09T22:49:57Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > So, **Scissorjack** , any luck with the Windex or dental floss methods? Perhaps **Scissorjack** is having trouble typing with only 9 fingers. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/31 "2009-06-09T23:47:15Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > So, **Scissorjack** , any luck with the Windex or dental floss methods? I tried the Windex, but it was wedged on too tight. I have to say, I was a little sceptical about the floss, but after a couple of tries I managed to get it to work. The trick is to wind it just right, so the ring has a nice continuous waxy path to be pulled up over slowly, while your finger isn’t too mummified and bulky with floss for the ring to shift. Patience also helps if it’s stuck tightly: it isn’t going to come spinning off, but it will ease off slowly. There were a few swollen purple moments, but nothing too alarming. Wonder if it works on cock rings? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/32 "2009-06-10T00:26:12Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > I tried the Windex, but it was wedged on too tight. I have to say, I was a little sceptical about the floss, but after a couple of tries I managed to get it to work. The trick is to wind it just right, so the ring has a nice continuous waxy path to be pulled up over slowly, while your finger isn’t too mummified and bulky with floss for the ring to shift. Patience also helps if it’s stuck tightly: it isn’t going to come spinning off, but it will ease off slowly. There were a few swollen purple moments, but nothing too alarming. Wonder if it works on cock rings? You had me happily reading until that last sentence… What have I done??? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/33 "2009-06-10T01:01:07Z")
Three cheers! Glad you didn’t have to cut it. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/34 "2009-06-10T06:54:19Z")
In my first marriage, I gained a lot of weight after I married and removing my engagement and wedding rings became a medical necessity. A friend had cutters at his house and cut the rings off on January 1, 1985. My engagement ring was a 4 and a half. After eleven years of marriage, everything fell apart. My husband and I separated and began to see other people and divorced although we remained friends. Exactly one year to the day after the ring was cut off, I married someone else. My wedding ring was a size eight. I’ve been married 23 years. Four years ago my step daughter gave me a lovely family heirloom diamond ring. I had to have it cut down to a size four and a half. Isn’t this where I came in? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Poster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Happy\_Poster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Poster)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083/35 "2009-06-10T07:33:28Z")
Just lose weight! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-way-to-remove-a-too-tight-ring/499083.md?page=1)