Rings


Rings for Maille
Part of my original goal was to be able to provide rings for the Boy Scouts I work with. I've taught a basic "How to Maille" class and several of the Scouts were very excited but the cost of good quality rings was really causing problems. I wasn't keen on the boys using galvanized fence wire (cheap and readily available) because of the zinc exposure so I started looking for a source of inexpensive aluminum wire. While wire for MIG welding is easy to find it isn't always cheap. So there I was, just minding my own business, browsing eBay when I ran into a great deal on aluminum wire. 5356 alloy, 1/16" diameter, one pound spools, 20 pounds to a box. After a little negotiation with the seller I bought the entire lot. I now have lots of raw material to work with. Since I enjoy the shop time, I've decided to extend my friends and family offer to you, my visitors. If you would like some nice, shiny, aluminum rings for making maille, just send me an e-mail. The rings are wound on a mandrel and then cut with a jewelers slitting saw. See the photos of the rig I use to cut the rings on the projects page. The end result are kerfs that are only 8/1000" which allows the ends to be closed such that the joint is virtually invisible. When closed with care the rings are suitable for use in jewelry. They are typically called jump rings when talking about jewelry but if you were to buy them as jump rings you would be buying them by the ounce at much, much higher prices! I should be able to make just about any size ring you need so feel free to enquire. Use the form on the contacts page to send me an e-mail.
	Here is a small pile of complete rings. If you click on the picture for a larger view you can see the very small kerf. Also note the almost complete lack of burs. The cut rings are first cleaned of the cutting lubricant and then tumbled in crushed corn cob media to remove the burs and polish them to a nice luster. To see some examples of projects that I've made, click here.
	Here you see a few open rings. Again, a quick zoom will give you an indication of the quality of the saw cut.
	Here are a few closed rings. The kerf is all but invisible when closed. Since a bit of spring is introduced when closing the rings, the tension holds the rings closed very tightly.
	Since I am not trying to make a living making rings, I can sell a pound of 1614 (16 gauge, 1/4" ID) 5356 (also known as bright aluminum) saw cut rings for only $20. It would cost nearly double that to purchase them from any of the commercial maille suppliers.
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