Gymnast rings are one of the best and most versatile strength training exercises out there. Lifting your body weight is considerably harder on rings than it is on a horizontal bar. This first session really put me in my place!

Making rings yourself is a satisfying project that doesn't require much material. Strength is key here; rings take serious abuse, so you should choose a plywood that has lots of layers. The more ply, the better. I found the 1.25" thickness to be perfect, but my hands are slightly on the large size. The 9.25" ring diameter also seems ideal to me. Filling and sanding are also critical take it down to 400 grit, because I tested them out once after they were just routed, and it shredded my hands. Of course, if you want calluses, this is the ticket!

Again, using rings is difficult. I made these for precisely that reason: this is as hardcore as it gets. But they are also fun! Mrs. pocket and I held on to them and then spun around each other, and we laughed hysterically. There are numerous ways to use these as healthy entertainment, so try making a pair.

Update on construction technique:
After making a second set, I would like to add that the outer "edges" (discussed at 11:00) are easier to sand by clamping the ring to a table. This way, you can look down at what you are sanding. This way is also easier ergonomically, because it isn't difficult at all to pull the sanding belt in a downward motion. By the way, the strip that I used was a cutup piece from a belt sander.

Oh, I should also mention that 5/8" roundover bits do actually exist: had I known that I would end up making four rings, I would have bought one.

Music:
Desert City Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
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