How To Help Your Gym Rings Last The Test Of Time

There are many benefits to using wooden gym rings for your work out. They provide an enhanced grip, smoother feel and overall a more professional piece of equipment. However, as they are a natural raw product, wood can degrade over time without the proper care.

Although nothing beats the freedom of an outdoor work out, unfortunately the two biggest factors that will impact the quality of your rings are exposure to rain, moisture and sunlight.

Rain can cause mould and wood rot after a sustained period of exposure and when the moisture content of the wood nears 20%. To prevent this, you need to wipe off any moisture immediately as wood needs to remain damp for any advancement of wood rot or mould to begin to appear.

Sunlight, or more specifically, UV light, can cause damage to exposed wood because it can destroy the wood’s lignin, a component of wood that keeps it strong.

So if you are using, or plan to use your rings outdoors, please see these two options to ensure you gymnastic rings will last for many years to come.

1. Store them

The best solution to keep your rings in tip-top condition is to store them in a cool dry area indoors when you’re not using them.

Although it can be a little bit of hassle, by taking an extra 30 seconds at the end of your workout to remove your rings from the path of the elements and under a roof, you’ll be adding years to your products lifespan and also ensuring the quality of your next work out is not impacted.

2. Treat them

The best quality wooden gym rings, such as ours, are untreated, natural and raw, and sanded down for a smooth and comfortable finish. This is because the natural wood creates the optimal grip. However, there is always the option to treat your wooden gymnastic rings as best as you see fit to reduce any impacts of the outside elements.

*One option is by applying a UV, water and mould resistant coating, such as linseed oil:

• Use linseed oil (diluted as necessary) to create the desired mixture.
• Ensure the rings are clean, dry, and smooth with minimal imperfections showing.
• Apply the coating with the rag and gloves and wait at least 30 minutes.
• Repeat, as many times as necessary to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
• You can then seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.

For more information on waterproofing wood, go here.

*Please note, we recommend you seek professional advice first on treating wood and the products involved. If not done correctly, moisture and mildew can affect the integrity of the wood and cause it to rot, crack and break.

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