Chain Maile Bracelet
The following instructable will show the basic tools and supplies you will need for chain maile weaving and the applications it can be used for. The one I am showing you how to make is the one that is a spiral inside of a spiral. the other one is a full Persian weave I will make one for that future instructable.
Mice thing about this is you can either make a larger diameter one like I will show you that a guy will feel comfortable wearing, or you can make one with a smaller diameter that is dainty enough for women to wear.
Mice thing about this is you can either make a larger diameter one like I will show you that a guy will feel comfortable wearing, or you can make one with a smaller diameter that is dainty enough for women to wear.
Supplies and Materials
First you will need some materials to build these chain maile bracelets you can find a ton of different rings here.
http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=1&cat=Rings
The rings I am using for this build is 18ga 1/4'' ID (Inside Diameter) Saw cut dark blue titanium with an AR of 5.6 (more on that later). You'll need around 200 of them.
I am also using two steel rings that are 18ga 3/16" ID saw cut, and some bronze rings for connecting the connectors.
The reason I went with titanium was because it is a non-reactive metal, it is lighter then steel, and the rings are very unlikely to become deformed after opening and closing them numerous times. The only down side is: they are really hard to open and close, they are expensive, and you will more then likely destroy the pliers you are going to use after you are done working with around 2000 of the rings. You can use any material or color combination you want, I just went with titanium because of weight to strength ratio.
For AR (Aspect Ratio) you the best thing to use is one listed with an AR of either 5.6 or a little bigger for more flexibility in the bracelet. You can use a AR that is a little smaller but it is harder to work with and the bracelet will be more rigid.
I appoligize in advance about the quality of the photos.
http://theringlord.com/cart/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=1&cat=Rings
The rings I am using for this build is 18ga 1/4'' ID (Inside Diameter) Saw cut dark blue titanium with an AR of 5.6 (more on that later). You'll need around 200 of them.
I am also using two steel rings that are 18ga 3/16" ID saw cut, and some bronze rings for connecting the connectors.
The reason I went with titanium was because it is a non-reactive metal, it is lighter then steel, and the rings are very unlikely to become deformed after opening and closing them numerous times. The only down side is: they are really hard to open and close, they are expensive, and you will more then likely destroy the pliers you are going to use after you are done working with around 2000 of the rings. You can use any material or color combination you want, I just went with titanium because of weight to strength ratio.
For AR (Aspect Ratio) you the best thing to use is one listed with an AR of either 5.6 or a little bigger for more flexibility in the bracelet. You can use a AR that is a little smaller but it is harder to work with and the bracelet will be more rigid.
I appoligize in advance about the quality of the photos.
Starting the Chain
now we will start assembling the bracelet.
1. Take the three closed rings and feed them through the open ring and then close the open ring. Now you will have what is called a 3-in-1 meaning 3 closed rings in one closed ring.
2. Now we will make a 3-in-3. Feed an open ring through the three closed ones and close, rinse and repeat until you have three.
3. Now repeat again until you reach step 4.
4. Continuing the chain. You can either stop here and continue on with the next step or you can keep going until you reach the desired length.
The main body of the chain I made for myself in 7 1/4" it has a total of 162 rings.
1. Take the three closed rings and feed them through the open ring and then close the open ring. Now you will have what is called a 3-in-1 meaning 3 closed rings in one closed ring.
2. Now we will make a 3-in-3. Feed an open ring through the three closed ones and close, rinse and repeat until you have three.
3. Now repeat again until you reach step 4.
4. Continuing the chain. You can either stop here and continue on with the next step or you can keep going until you reach the desired length.
The main body of the chain I made for myself in 7 1/4" it has a total of 162 rings.
Starting the Spiral
5. Now the hard part. Take an open ring and inset through the 6 rings as shown, it is now a 6-in-1 and runs diagonally.
6. Now add two more additional rings right next to the ring in step 5.
7. Now for the next part take an open ring and feed it through the three you just finished in step 6 and it should end up in the middle of another previous set above it, follow with two more rings. My camera would not take a picture with enough detail to show it, but you should be able to see how it will look in the next to the last picture of this step.
It is frustrating but after making two to three sections of the second spiral it becomes very easy and you can begin to see a pattern emerge.
6. Now add two more additional rings right next to the ring in step 5.
7. Now for the next part take an open ring and feed it through the three you just finished in step 6 and it should end up in the middle of another previous set above it, follow with two more rings. My camera would not take a picture with enough detail to show it, but you should be able to see how it will look in the next to the last picture of this step.
It is frustrating but after making two to three sections of the second spiral it becomes very easy and you can begin to see a pattern emerge.
Finishing
Just continue until you reach your desired length.
I know it is hard to see but there is an open steel ring at the end creating a 6-in-1. just place it there and close it and then you can place some bronze rings on it to add the loop end of the clasp.
Now do the same for the other ends but use an additional set of bronze rings to add a little more length to the stick clasp and you are done.
I know it is hard to see but there is an open steel ring at the end creating a 6-in-1. just place it there and close it and then you can place some bronze rings on it to add the loop end of the clasp.
Now do the same for the other ends but use an additional set of bronze rings to add a little more length to the stick clasp and you are done.