Short answer: a quick splash won't hurt a skateboard ring, but long soaks will. If you remember one thing from this post, make it this: take it off before you swim, shower, or do the dishes. Here's the full skateboard ring care guide, from the guy who makes every Bayshore ring by hand in Tampa.
Can Skateboard Rings Get Wet?
A skateboard ring is made from a recycled skateboard deck, which is seven thin layers of maple glued and pressed together. Every Bayshore ring is sealed with a hard CA finish, so the wood isn't raw. Washing your hands, getting caught in a Florida afternoon storm, or knocking over a drink? Dry it off and you're fine.
The problem is time. Wood is wood. When it sits in water for a long time, moisture can work its way in, and wood that soaks up water swells, then shrinks again as it dries. Do that over and over and you're asking for trouble with the finish and the fit. So the rule isn't "never let it touch water." It's "don't let it stay wet."
Take It Off For These
- Swimming. Pool, ocean, lake, hot tub. Chlorine and salt water are rough on any finish, and you'll be in there way longer than a hand wash.
- Showering and baths. Long, hot, and soapy. Leave it in the box on the counter.
- Doing dishes. Hot water plus dish soap plus scrubbing is the worst combo for a wooden ring.
- Cleaning with chemicals. Bleach, strong cleaners, and especially nail polish remover. Acetone can attack CA finishes, so keep it far away from your ring.
What If It Gets Wet Anyway?
It happens. You forgot to take it off, or you got pushed in the pool. Don't panic.
- Take the ring off.
- Pat it dry with a soft cloth, inside and out. The inside is the part that touches your skin and stays damp longest.
- Let it air dry at room temperature before you put it back on.
- Don't speed it up with a hair dryer, an oven, or a hot car dashboard. Fast, high heat is harder on wood than the water was.
If something looks off after it dries, like a cloudy spot in the finish, email me at contact@bayshorerings.com with a photo and I'll tell you what I'd do.
Wood vs Stainless Steel: Does the Steel Ring Handle Water Better?
I make two styles. The all-wood rings, like the Green & Yellow and the Dark Blue & Green, are 100% skateboard. The Blue & Pink has a stainless steel inner band with skateboard wood wrapped around the outside.
The steel itself doesn't mind water. But the outside of that ring is still recycled skateboard wood, so the same rules apply. Take it off for swimming, showers, and dishes. Where the steel ring really earns its keep is structure: steel touching your finger means extra strength for a ring you wear every single day, which is why a lot of people pick it as a skateboard wedding band.
Everyday Skateboard Ring Care
The good news is that day-to-day care is easy.
- Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. That's it. No polish, no oils, no jewelry cleaner needed.
- Put lotion and sunscreen on first, then the ring. Let it soak in before the ring goes back on so you're not trapping it against the wood.
- Go easy on hand sanitizer. If you use it a lot, slip the ring off or let your hands dry before putting it back on.
- Keep it in its box. Every ring ships in a wooden box. When you're not wearing it, that's its home, so it doesn't get scratched up in a drawer or lost in a cup holder.
Take It Off for Heavy Work (and Maybe Skating)
Maple is one of the toughest hardwoods out there, which is exactly why skate companies use it. But any ring, wood or metal, can get scratched or knocked when you're lifting weights, using tools, or working with your hands. If you're about to do something that could crush or scrape your hand, take the ring off.
Same goes for skating. If you're trying a new trick and you might slam, your hand is going to hit the ground. Pocket it for the session and put it back on after.
Living in Florida With a Wooden Ring
I make every ring in Tampa, so I get it. It's hot, it's humid, and there's a beach or a pool everywhere you look. Humidity on its own isn't a problem for a sealed ring. Just build the habit:
- Ring goes in the box before you head to the beach or pool, not in your pocket where it can fall out in the sand.
- Don't leave it in a parked car. Florida car interiors get brutally hot.
- Sunscreen on, let it dry, then ring on.
More on the local side of things in handmade skateboard rings in Tampa.
Can a Skateboard Ring Be Resized?
No. Wood rings can't be stretched or resized like metal ones, so getting the size right the first time matters. Check yours with the ring size guide before you order. Every ring is comfort fit and runs true to size. One heads-up: fingers are a little bigger when you're hot and a little smaller when you're cold, so measure at normal room temperature. If an unworn ring doesn't fit, it can be returned within 30 days under the refund policy.
Why the Finish Matters
All this care stuff comes down to the finish. Every ring gets a hard CA finish and a hand polish at the end. CA is a synthetic coating, not a natural oil, and I'm upfront about that. I use it because it seals the wood and protects it from everyday wear, so the ring lasts. You can see where it fits in the process in how skateboard rings are made, and why I think durability is part of being sustainable in eco friendly wooden rings.
Treat it right and your ring will keep showing off those colored plies for a long time. Ready to pick one? Check out the skateboard rings in the shop.
FAQ
Can you shower with a skateboard ring?
Take it off. A splash is fine, but showers are long, hot, and soapy, and that's exactly what wears down a wood ring over time.
Can you swim with a wooden ring?
No. Pools, salt water, and long soaks are the main things to avoid. Leave it in its box on land.
Is a stainless steel skateboard ring waterproof?
The steel inner band handles water fine, but the outside is still skateboard wood, so treat it like a wood ring: take it off for swimming, showers, and dishes.
How do you clean a skateboard ring?
Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Skip chemical cleaners, and keep acetone (nail polish remover) away from it.
What should I do if my wood ring gets wet?
Take it off, pat it dry inside and out, and let it air dry at room temperature. Don't use a hair dryer or other high heat.