Asked on Aug 28, 2016

Looking for rings around 27 inches in diameter that can hold weight...

Ileen Stephens
by Ileen Stephens
The rings will be sat on so preferably I'd like them to be able to hold around 200 lbs. I could possibly settle for around 150 lbs.
I have looked at Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, the internet and have had no luck. I am wanting to make a macramé birdcage chair and want to be certain the rings used hold up for awhile and people can actually sit in my chair. :)
I did not make this chair. This is just an example of what I want to make. The two large rings are what I am in need of.
  16 answers
  • William William on Aug 28, 2016
    You would need bentwood rings. They are made of thin layers of wood glued together to form the ring. Opposing grains give the strength. A solid piece of wood formed into a ring has no strength. It will give at the grain. I don't know anywhere you can purchase them. There really isn't a market for them. The only thing I can suggest is a woodworker that is willing to make them for you. Another option: As a woodworker, I would make two rings from wood discs, laminate/glue a metal ring in between the two wood discs, round the edges with a router.
  • Anna Anna on Aug 28, 2016
    Keep in mind that each ring doesn't have to hold 200 pounds. The weight is divided by the amount of rings you use. Example: If you use 4 rings then each ring must hold at least 50 pounds, as long as the weight is distributed evenly.
  • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Aug 28, 2016
    Personally if I were going to put that much work into it, I would not use a wooden ring, I would use metal. This site has them: http://www.bjcraftsupplies.com/generalCrafts/...
  • Elizabeth Diane Elizabeth Diane on Sep 02, 2016
    When I have a weight bearing problem, I resolve it by using more "rings" to help carry the weight. Other than purchasing metal rings that look wooden, the answer eludes me. I think Katrina has the right idea.
  • Ileen Stephens Ileen Stephens on Sep 03, 2016
    That's not such a bad idea. Kind of like what Anna had said about combining rings that hold so much weight to hold more weight. I couldn't find rings big enough at bjcraftsupplies.com. I searched for some wrought iron rings online but, what I found was too expensive to be sensible for my project. So, I searched through others tutorials of hanging macramé chairs to see if anyone mentions where they found the rings but, every one I came across the person had cut the ring from an existing chair. lol. Which is what I was planning to do but, I only have enough for one chair and I wanted to make many. So, now I am thinking I may experiment with bicycle rims and see where that goes. lol Everyone has had very helpful ideas and I super appreciate y'all trying to help. Thank you everyone. :)
    • See 2 previous
    • Robby Treichel Robby Treichel on Dec 18, 2016

      Susan's idea of wagon wheels is not a bad one, if you can find them small enough, but I'm afraid bicycle wheels are just not strong enough. They are pretty flimsy these days.

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Sep 04, 2016
    I have never used them, but what about rock climbing carabiners ? https://www.amazon.com/climbing-carabiners-an...
  • M. M.. M. M.. on Sep 05, 2016
    I recently bought two hula-hoop-sized bamboo rings at Ikea, I think with the many ropes, the weight is spread out. Since it's the end of Summer, maybe someone is getting rid of a hammock or hammock chair that you could use as a start... I've even seen people who take the legs off a comfy chair and hang that from a beam..
  • Suzanne Martin Suzanne Martin on Sep 05, 2016
    Mini trampolines?
  • M. M.. M. M.. on Sep 09, 2016
    The metal rings from old wine barrels? IF they're not too badly corroded!
  • Leronna Farley Leronna Farley on Sep 10, 2016
    go to a metal shop, like Mega Mex or WorldFab & see of they can take a piece of rebar & bend & solder it for you at a fairly reasonable price.
  • Susan Bechamp Susan Bechamp on Dec 05, 2016

    Would a wagon wheel work? Check Amish wares dot com web site

  • Didi Didi on May 27, 2018

    Try Memphis Net and Twine

  • Erika Erika on Mar 28, 2020

    Hi IIeen,


    I am looking for the hoops too, I was wondering where did you buy yours from?

    Thank you in advance.

  • Sara Nachtman-Moyer Sara Nachtman-Moyer on Sep 25, 2020

    Anyone have luck with finding metal rings?


  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jul 19, 2021

    Hi, Get in touch with a Blacksmith!

  • Deb K Deb K on Aug 02, 2021

    Hello, hope this helps you out, it's one idea

    https://www.classyclutter.net/diy-hanging-macrame-chair/