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Post by 1dave on Aug 22, 2020 16:08:58 GMT -7
Jump rings are a snap to make. Choose the gauge of wire you want: round, half hound, flat, triangle, square, twisted, braided . . .Pick the size mandrel you want. I like to use a drill bit from a set so you can easily make more of any size if needed. I keep my extras in labeled small pill bottles. (one blessing of getting old - you can collect lots of pill bottles) Tight spiral wrap the wire on the mandrel, slip them off and cut apart with snips. Anyone willing to add photos of the jump rings they've made? |
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Post by 1dave on Aug 22, 2020 16:09:53 GMT -7
I make mine on a mandrel, but in about 4" coil lengths. Then I put them in a holder, and zip across them with my Dremel super-duper Koil Kutter (by David Arens), and voila! I have a pile. Will take photos tomorrow. After that, I put them in the little vibrating tumbler with a drop of Dawn and water to give them a lovely shine and to remove any little burs. My winder was made by a machinist friend. Here is a link to what I have. I've never had trouble with it. desiredcreations.com/howTo_TLKoilKutter.htmI should add that I have a Dremel dedicated to making jumprings, so I don't have to install and remove the Koil Kutter for other work. |
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Post by 1dave on Aug 22, 2020 16:10:49 GMT -7
This is the windy thing made by a machinist friend. The C-clamp holds it on well.  IMG_1919 by Pat6489, on Flickr Here is the mechanism that holds the mandrel. I use anything round as a mandrel. The leather fingers are to protect my fingers that are holding the wire. Pulling the wire towards me and a little to the left gives even, close coils. The flat nose pliers are to make the right hangle bend necessary to to bend the wire to insert into the chuck. Wire cutters...  IMG_1925 by Pat6489, on Flickr Closeup of wire inserted into the chunk. You can see the wire inside. It is loose. I cut off both ends prior to cutting the coil into rings.  IMG_1924 by Pat6489, on Flickr I bought this set of mandrels from the maker of Koil Kutter. I highly recommend it. Never a problem. To move the coil into rings, I use this Koil Kutter: desiredcreations.com/howTo_TLKoilKutter.htm IMG_1920 by Pat6489, on Flickr Here's a pile of round. I rarely use it because the set above has about anything I would need. I use 16 and 18 gauge sterling, argentium, copper and red brass mostly. If you click on my banner, you will see what I use the rings for. I never thought I'd like making rings for chain maille jewelry, but I do.  IMG_1926 by Pat6489, on Flickr Ring storage drawers. Silver on the right, and other on the left.  IMG_1915 by Pat6489, on Flickr This is how I label them:: gauge, ID (inside diameter), metal  IMG_1916 by Pat6489, on Flickr Hope this helps. |
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Post by 1dave on Aug 22, 2020 16:12:18 GMT -7
For those who make armor and jewelry with hundreds or thousands (or tens of thousands, in my case) of jump rings... I highly recommend www.theringlord.com. Huge variety of sizes and types of wire, coils, and/or rings. |
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