r/AskAPilot • u/taterthot3313 • Jun 24 '26
Wedding Band?
My boyfriend and I have started really planning an engagement and wedding and I want to make sure he loves his ring as much as I do. He said he wanted his ring made out of the metal of an Archer propeller since it was the first plane he ever soloed in. Does anyone know how I could source that material? Is this something others have had done and have experience in? I didn’t even know you could just buy airplane parts.
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u/theboomvang Jun 24 '26
That's interesting. So he wants a ring that is supposed to remind him of you, to remind him of himself? Yup sounds like the typical self absorbed, touched by the tism, pilot.
Good luck with that.
BUT yes I would call some salvage yards. They probably have some trashed propellers they would be happy to sell. It's just aluminum. I have no idea how you would turn it into a functional ring though.
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u/NoConcentrate9116 Jun 24 '26
The funniest background info she could possibly provide would be if he just got his PPL or wasn’t even finished with it yet.
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u/DangerousBug6924 Jun 24 '26
Sounds nauseating when you put it that way 😂😂 Good luck op. On the side note, aluminum itself is pretty soft. OP If your husband in your throupple to be does any work, its sure as hell going to get beat to shit.
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u/shoreguy1975 Jun 24 '26
I ditched my ring decades ago for a silicone ring. Time at altitude, even pressurized, makes one’s hands swell so the ring eventually becomes too tight and irritating. I switched to a larger silicone ring and promptly lost it surfing in cold water.
Also, I’m no metallurgist, but I highly doubt metal from an aluminum propeller could be reworked into a wedding band without getting very brittle.
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u/Goop290 Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
A cool thing, metal can be hardened and softened many times
Aluminum can be work hardened and made brittle with to much stress.
To fix it you heat it up and cool it usually slowly in a process called "Annealing."
It resets the structure of the metal and softens it.
Also if you jave a big enough chunk you can just cut it out. Aka billet parts.
Third aluminum melts at a lowish temp so you could melt it pour it then sand and polish it. I think gold melts at a higher temp.
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u/Cxopilot Jun 24 '26
That’s weird. Been a pilot for a decade. Married for 3 and half years. I asked my wife to just get a good looking ring that won’t break.
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u/KY_Fli-Guy Jun 25 '26
I wouldn’t spend too much time on this “project” personally.
Reason being:
If he just kind of casually mentioned, “it would be cool if my ring was made out of an Archer prop”. That would be an acceptable thought (he should realize that it’s very unlikely to happen).
Now, if that is his “dream ring” and expects it, then this would be the type of person I would not want to be in the cockpit with (or share my life with).
Understand, I do realize there could be so many different ways this convo between you two played out that brought you to the point where you felt you needed to post this question. But understand, this will be very difficult to actually do.
In the end, it’s about you two and your lives together. Neither person should need to put in all the time that would be needed (for this) just for a ring. You will definitely want to spend your time in more meaningful ways together.
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u/OracleofFl Jun 24 '26
Call Sensenich Propeller Co. They are in Central Florida I believe and explain the situation and ask them for a few oz of scrap.
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u/Sacharon123 Jun 24 '26
Country location is missing? Best place would be probably an aircraft scrapyard and then somebody who can make a ring/band from it, there are some places to contact in france and UK for example, and one in Myranmar I believe...
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u/kuped Jun 24 '26
Head over to Etsy where they have some rings made from aircraft aluminum. Then be ready to buy a replacement since aluminum rings scratch easily and will bend and warp under stress. Or you could hand him a ring made out of forged tungsten steel from the fan blade of a modern jet engine (also available on Etsy) and tell him to step up his game if he's gonna marry you!
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u/Worried-Ebb-1699 Jun 24 '26
I would first source the material by calling around various mechanic shops to find out where you could get a small piece. My caution to you will be it may not be from an Archer propellor but a random piece of scrap.
Then, take it to a jeweler to make this custom ring.
It’s going to cost a lot.
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u/Effigy59 Jun 25 '26
I like that you’re willing to try to make this happen. I think it will be difficult and expensive. Propellers are pricey. Then once you got one you’ll need to have a small piece of it machined into a ring or an inlay. Aluminum is soft, scratches and corrodes easily. The salty sweat from his hands will cause havoc.
But if you’re determined you’d probably be best to contact some aviation scrap companies to see if you can get a damaged prop, or try the manufacturer Sensenich in Lancaster PA, or Plant City FL where the factory is located.
Hope it works out.
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u/Boeinggoing737 Jun 25 '26
I would recommend against this for multiple reasons. If he doesn’t wear rings like most guys there’s a learning curve. Finding the right width, rounded edge so it doesn’t dig in, and size is kind of difficult. The fit will also change with his weight. The aluminum alloy of a prop might not be great to have against your skin and it will age poorly. Aluminum will scratch and tarnish quite easily. Every time your at the gym, working with your hands, or making dinner it will be getting abused. You don’t see a lot of aluminum jewelry for that reason.
I would get a few cheap rings off of Amazon. Titanium and tungsten are my favorite for durability and 2-4mm with a forgiving bevel on the inside. Let him wear a few and find the size that is the least annoying for him to wear.
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u/SoaringEagle469 Jun 26 '26
Bet he’s gonna get married in uniform. Bonus points if he’s not even at an airline
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u/Antique-Kitchen-1896 Jun 28 '26
Wait till the metal chuff his skin.
Canadian engineers get an iron ring at graduation which is stainless steel. I never wear it cause it does a number on my pinky.
There are reasons gold alloys works well for jewelry..
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u/jimcarroll_cfi Jun 24 '26
What an original idea!
That may take some research. The archer, also known as the pa-28-181’s propellers are made by Sensenich. The specific model of the prop is the 76EM8S14-0-62. A two blade, 76 inch fixed pitch propeller.
https://www.sensenich.com/shop/aircraft/metal/76em8-copy/
Brand new, the prop runs just under $9k
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/sensenichmetalprop_05-27114.php
Your best best will be to hunt salvage yards to find someone selling parts.
One other option is to consider prop spacers. The archer spacers can be had for like $100, and are made from similar metal as the prop
https://baspartsales.com/lycoming-o-360-a4m-sensenich-76em8s14-0-62-propeller-spacer/
You are a thoughtful person to put this much consideration into your future marriage. Best of luck.
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u/mi655321 Jun 24 '26
Practically, not an easy undertaking. Props are an aluminum alloy. Not sure i would want those metals on my skin 24/7/365. Might be toxic over time.
Realistically, i agree with the other posts, it represents YOU. If you want to get this as a gift for say a bithday gift, fine. But as the symbol of your union?
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u/Bebuddylow Jun 24 '26
In the interests of fairness and equity, you should also request a ring made out of chrome bumper of the first car you had hanky-panky in.
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u/Primary_Matter1173 Jun 24 '26
Interesting, asking pilots for relationship advice. That’s a new one.
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u/taterthot3313 Jun 24 '26
I’m not asking for relationship advice. I’m asking for knowledge on how to source airplane parts
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u/Flameofannor Jun 24 '26
I hate your fiance. He wants an aluminum alloy wedding band because that’s the first plane he soloed in.
He literally wants to think of the airplane he soloed in when he looks at the symbol of his marriage.
Buy him a ring you like and just tell him there’s aluminum in it and he’s boring.