Rubbing iron on gold 1

[SusanH]

All engineers from Canada receive an iron ring when they graduate, to wear on their pinky finger. I recently received mine for a degree in mechanical engineering (hence I'm not so hot with my materials!), but I am curious as to its effect on a gold ring. Many chose to get a stainless steel ring, as the iron will stain your finger. Opting to stay traditional, I chose iron. However I am hesitant to wear the ring next to my gold ring as they tend to rub together from time to time and I would hate to destroy my band. Are my worries reasonable or am I fretting over nothing? Please advise.

 

[rnd2]

Sweat = moisture & salt and iron in contact is anodic to gold.
Beware of rust stains!

 

[Metalguy]

Susan,
Gold? Didn't "da bum" buy you a big diamond?<g>

 

[NickE]

Do ALL canadian engineers join the Order? Over here in the states only those that want to join.

Any way about your problem. on my hand (which may be a different shape than yours) my SS ring would not really rub on anything but a really wide banded ring on my ring finger. Have you tried them both on at the same time? Hom much are they gonna rub? You could try it for a while and see how bad the witness mark is on the gold. Since the gold is significantly softer I would expect it to show any severe wear immediately.

If they wear quickly you just may have to make the decision wich is more important to you, Teh Big Fat Gold w/ a Big Fat Diamond (refering to metalguy's post) or The Order! Tough choice I know, but I feel that you will be just fine either/or.



Nick
I love materials science!

 

[COKA]

One of the professors at the University where I graduated is one of the people that came up with the "iron ring" chemistry. Some time ago, those rings used to be made of iron, but since they would rust on a regular basis, the engineers had to change them all the time. So the professor (and his team, I suppose) came up with the new chemistry. He didn't want to give his secret away, but he simply told me that the ring is made of a "stainless" iron! So all the iron rings given to Canadian Engineers are in fact made of the "stainless" iron.

Hope this helps

Coka

 

[SusanH]

Nope, they're not all stainless. At least they're not if you go to a REAL engineering school And yes, all graduates of a canadian engineering school are welcome to be "ringed", but some chose not too if they are not planning to practice engineering, or for other reasons.

The majority of the Canadian rings are made of stainless, but some Universities (mine included) still give away real iron ones. I think the rust ring around my finger, and all the rust on the inside of my ring will speak for itself Also you can't pick up the new stainless ones with a magnet but you can pick up the iron ones. In fact many of the real iron rings are the same rings they started giving out 80 years ago that have been returned by people who are no longer practicing.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I figured I was in for some problems if I stayed with iron, but didn't want to exchange my ring needlessly. It's worth switching to stainless though to preserve my gold band. (Although the $28,000 I spent on my university education easily tops the price of replacing the band for my diamonds!!

 

[EdStainless]

The stainless may still cause wear marks on your gold ring so check carefully.

We supplied someone in Canada with a length of 430 stainless tubing that I belive was going to be used for this purpose. But I can't remember where they were...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.

http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm

 

[macmil]

Is this a trick question, or do you spend a lot of time wringing your hands ? (Lady Macbeth)
Iron ring ; right hand pinky
Gold ring (I presume matrimonial type ) left hand "ring" finger.
No problem.
mac P.Eng. ( no rings )

 

[SusanH]

Ever heard of teh 1/9 of the world that are left handed? Your iron ring goes on the pinkie finger of your working hand, not your right hand

 

[COKA]

or if your religion is Orthodox, you wear your wedding ring on your right hand...

Coka

 

[CdotS]

Susan has brought up a good question where corrosion, wear and social/religious issues are involved.

Is it true that the iron rings worn by Canadian engineers were made from the same steel used in the construction of a bridge that collapsed and killed many workers many years ago? And, this is a reminder to all engineers that the responsibilities of the engineering profession?

 

[COKA]

The legend says that the same iron, from that bridge, was used until there was no more. It was not steel... And today, we don't really have steel rings either, but something like stainless iron! I am just quoting my professor who was involved in finding the modern "iron ring" chemistry. Hence the "IRON RING" - from the iron bridge.
At the ceremony where i got my iron ring, we were told to wear it on our working hand. And the idea behind that is that every time you sign a document, your ring would drag accross that important paper, which would remind you of the tragedy that happened.... and it works... it makes me think a couple of times before I sign anything....

Coka

 

[NickE]

For us right handers that wear the ring, when we shake hands with another wearer our rings click together.

 

[dbuzz]

That's a great tradition. A webpage I came across when trying to find out some more information about the iron ring may be of interest:

http://me.queensu.ca/undergraduate/activities/ironRing/