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[Aklyon]

img.ie works too, if you run out of photobucket bandwidth.

[Thief^]

To resurrect the thread:

I've bought a small number of rings from beadsisters for testing materials and sizes and things, specifically:

Scales:
100 black anodised aluminium scales (sc-blk-100)
20 blue anodised aluminium scales (sc-bl)
20 green anodised aluminium scales (sc-gr)

Anodized aluminium:
100 mixed anodized aluminium jump rings - id 5mm - 1.29mm (rd4-50almix)

Rubber:
100 black EPDM o-rings - id 6.4mm - 1.63mm (rd6-64blkrb)

Stainless steel:
100 stainless steel saw cut jump rings - id 4.2mm - 1.02mm (rd3-40scstsl)
100 stainless steel saw cut jump rings - id 5.2mm - 1.29mm (rd4-50scstsl)
100 stainless steel saw cut jump rings - id 6.7mm - 1.63mm (rd6-64scstsl)
(all approx AR 4)

Aluminium:
500 bright aluminium jump rings - id 5mm - 1.29mm (rd4-50bral-500)
500 bright aluminium jump rings - id 6.7mm - 1.63mm (rd6-64bral-500)
100 bright aluminium jump rings - id 5mm - 1.63mm (rd4-64bral)
(the first are a recommended size for joining the scales, and match the anodized ones, the next are a good match for the rubber rings and the last should be a good edging for the test bracelet I'm planning. The first two also are close matches to the steel rings for comparison)

Just waiting for them to arrive, will then post some pictures of things I make

[Farmerbob]

Anyone here ever tried to use helical coils for chain work?  Standard keyrings are helical coils.

[Girlinhat]

That would be "split rings" in chainmail terms.  They do sell them, but they're not as popular.  You're generally paying for extra machining work for lower quality.  Though the sell them in "coined" and "uncoined" varieties, depending on whether or not the overlap point is indented or not.

Although there is the benefit that you can pick up a 300 pack of cheap mini-keyrings at almost any store, they do suffer because they are cheap mini-keyrings.  You're not likely to sell them, if that's your goal, and they look tacky when used at their best.

[Farmerbob]

That would be "split rings" in chainmail terms.  They do sell them, but they're not as popular.  You're generally paying for extra machining work for lower quality.  Though the sell them in "coined" and "uncoined" varieties, depending on whether or not the overlap point is indented or not.

Although there is the benefit that you can pick up a 300 pack of cheap mini-keyrings at almost any store, they do suffer because they are cheap mini-keyrings.  You're not likely to sell them, if that's your goal, and they look tacky when used at their best.

Well, if I ever try to make a set of chain mail again, I'll probably use helical coils made of good steel, they are pretty darn cheap and a LOT lighter than the 5/16th inch lockwashers in a 1-4 pattern that I made once.  Never got very far in the chain set, but we did wrap it over a small watermelon and test it against a 60lb pull bow with a field point and it stopped the arrow.  Broke the watermelon inside.  Full set of that stuff would have weighed well over 200 lb and would have to have been designed with extremely heavy leather unders to protect the shoulders from the weight.  I'll dig out the remnants of the lockwasher stuff and post an image for giggles.

Wow, found a bracer that I didn't realize I still had.  Made a bunch of them for gifts and didn't remember keeping any, but apparently I kept one.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Here it is being worn.  Same material and pattern that was used to stop arrows.  Made of 5/16 inch lockwashers before the od to id ratio of lockwashers available to me easily changed so they wouldn't connect 1 in 4 and still be flexible at all.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[forsaken1111]

I like that leather clasp. Where did you get it?

[MarcAFK]

That looks far more like real mail than anything using wire, except half your washers should be closed and the other half riveted, but still they're flat and barely fit together which is about right.

[Thief^]

I hold the utmost respect for anyone who ever makes hand-riveted mail.

[Thief^]

1.6mm (14awg) aluminium is hard to bend. Haven't tried the steel yet O.o

[OddTheTall]

From my knowledge of early and dark-age European mail, there was some butted , some rivited (both entierly and half with welded/punched rings) and some Pictish/Celtic stuff with all the rings *welded* closed. I don't even want to imagine how much of a pain that would have been.

[Aklyon]

1.6mm (14awg) aluminium is hard to bend. Haven't tried the steel yet O.o

Are you trying to bend it with your hands, or with pliers?

[Thief^]

First one, then the other.

[Farmerbob]

I like that leather clasp. Where did you get it?

Made it with belt parts from a local leatherworking shop.

[Farmerbob]

First one, then the other.

Two pairs of pliers.  No other sane way to do it with really stiff metals.  I had to use 2x lineman's pliers for the washers.

[Thief^]

Two pairs of pliers.  No other sane way to do it with really stiff metals.  I had to use 2x lineman's pliers for the washers.

Yeah, I'm used to working ~1mm silver, and that's pretty hard stuff, so I'm used to using twin sets of pliers. I think I might need to get some with a shorter (and wider) nose though for these thicker gauges.