Other than buying an expensive jump ring maker, what do you use as mandrels for making jump rings in metric sizes?
The clerks at the hardware stores clearly thought I was mental when I asked for metric drill bits.

What do you do if the coil of wire doesn't want to slide off the mandrel? I used a Crayola coloring pencil as a mandrel because it was the only thing I could find that was 7 mm. The coil wouldn't come off; perhaps the wooden pencil allowed the coil to be wound too tightly. Does this happen with metal mandrels, too?

Janet

Dave Arens at gemstonesetc@gainbroadband.com sells a great jump ring cutter called the Koil Kutter. for about $80.  Look on my web site at www.bijoux-de-terre.com , click on "For Our Students" and scan down for information on tools.

 

No, coils do not stick to metal mandrels.  It really doesn't matter if you use metric sized or english sized mandrels.  All you have to do is use the one with the correct aspect ratio.  Tables are also on my web site giving aspect ratios so you don't have to figure them out yourself.

 I make pounds of jump rings for chain maille using aluminum knitting needles as my metric mandels and transfer punches as my imperial sized mandrels.  It is very easy to cut the needles down to the size you prefer with a jeweler's saw, my only caveat about the knitting needles - do not assume the size they are stamped is actually the size they measure out.  I use digital calipers to measure my mandrels and my wire (yes - wire can vary b/w orders and b/w vendors). 

I have made jump rings for 20 years and have never purchased a fancy jump ring tool. I'm not saying its bad thing but sometime you have to watch your pennies. Here is a few tips:

 #1. When you make any kind of jump ring using hard wire or half hard wire you cannot use anything soft where the wire might sink into the mandrel and then you can't get it off. This includes crayolas, wood, plastic etc.

#2. To get that smooth even cut that looks so professional you will need a small rotary cutting when that you can put on a rotary tool (dremil) or a flex shaft. That's the expensive way.

#3. Instead get a good flush cutter, the best you can afford: I use the orange handle Xuron cutters and they going on 7 years old and you can find them for about $19. Don't be fooled by others that look identical with the same features and same orange handle because the steel is different and they don't last too long. There cheap but don't last too long. Make sure it has Xuron on it because you are paying for the way it cuts and the steel its made from.

#4. The aluminum needles are a great idea and there cheap. In the old days i would go to the nearest junk yard and find all typef of metal rods of all sizes for about .50 cents and use them as mandrels. Many i still own and use 20 years later.

#5. If you have a tumbler throw em all in a big barrel tumbler and and let them tumble for about 2 hours and they will be very hard and solid, and that's what you want. Harbor freight has a tumbler, a very good one, for under $50 go here: ----- Its the best tumbler i have ever used for the price and it has two barrels.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90979

Good luck with your jump rings!

Preston

www.wirejewelrybootcamp.com

 

 

Actually I've found that about 30 minutes using stainless steel shot and Rio's Super Sunsheen works well.

I came across something very interesting in the metal, will send it to you tomorrow - very ineresting

 

preston