HOME | DD
LTgoatRoper β Power Winding Chainmail
Published: 2012-02-07 06:54:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 4494; Favourites: 43; Downloads: 59
Redirect to original
Description
In an effort to speed up the production of chainmail at home I have designed a winding assisting block. While this was originally designed to be used on a hand crank jig with some minor modifications I can make a three foot coil in less than a minute.The basic idea is to have the wire feed in thru the top, the rod goes in one end and the exit port is drilled to the exterior diameter of the coil.
The rod is straight with a notch cut into the end to receive the wire. The reason I use a notch instead of a single hole is to make it easy to remove the coil after finishing.
Related content
Comments: 32
genius
BC
The Black Cat ~ Shadow
i've been thinking about trying my hand at chainmail as something to do aboard ship and i'll so have to remember this because this way seems a whole lot easier than my other plan of getting more links aboard... (instead of having to make room in my sea bag i can use the old scrap medal aboard for practice material) but there i go rambling so i digress Β Β
π: 0 β©: 1
The repair shop should have a lathe or two that you might be able speed up the process.
π: 0 β©: 1
dude! what a great idea! thanks for the advice. btw how did you learn the art of making maille? and where do you get your materials from? i've been trying to find places that sell either bags of jump rings or long polls of aluminum but they are few and far between. think you could spare a bit more advice?
BC
The Black Cat ~ Shadow
π: 0 β©: 1
I usually buy 14 and 12ga electric fence wire at farm supply stores since it is high grade and cheap. The rod I bought at Lowes and I use either 1/2in or 3/8ths in diameter. If you donβt have access to antler to make the jig out of brass might work but I havenβt tried brass yet. Almost everything can be found on Amazon and they have free shipping to all FPO addresses.
Most of what I know about chainmail is self taught. I grew up around a manufacturing plant so making a basic jig came second nature and I have been improving the design ever since.Β
π: 0 β©: 0
just some questions popped in my mind:
As i can see you don't stretch (put it under friction) the steel wire right ?
Does the rings stay bent after wearing chain mail or something else?
What is the rod diameter and also the wire ?
π: 0 β©: 1
Oh, good questions! As it stands I have not yet tried this design on steel wire since my power drill isnβt strong enough to wind that type of wire. Recently I picked up a 3.5amp drill and some block aluminum that I plan on fabricating into a jig that can withstand steel.
Β
As for friction that is achieved in two locations; the first is at the spool since it rests on a clamp instead of bearings. The second location is in the jig itself since there is a sudden change in direction the wire naturally resists movement to a point. Because of this heat is generated in the winding process it that helps the wire to maintain its shape, it isnβt as good as real heat tempering but it helps.
Β
Bent rings have never been a problem for me unless I put them under stress. Even with aluminum it can be worn for an extended period without fatigue. My rings arenβt riveted or welded so the risk of popping is higher but unless you plan on taking a spear you should be fine. No chainmail will do well against a piercing blow but my 12ga Β½ inch galvanized steel shirt has taken full blows from a hand and a half sword and I only got a dislocated rib and some bruises. Β When opening your rings you donβtβ want to open them like a βCβ instead bend them like a cork screw.
Β
For wire size I mainly use either 12ga on a 1/2in rod or 14ga on a 3/8in rod. The one in this photo is 14ga 3/8in
π: 0 β©: 0
I just uploaded pictures of this made out of antler, it works so much better.
π: 0 β©: 1
sweet. that's sound innovative and awesome at the same time lol
π: 0 β©: 0
Thank you thank you thank you what a great share
π: 0 β©: 1
No problem, have you tried using something like this to make the rings for your jewelry?
π: 0 β©: 1
No I haven't been game to think about rings but now that you have shared this I will give it a go. Thanks again
π: 0 β©: 0
hmm, i just use a glove and roughly a 3 foot rod with a drill and go to town...however i can highly respect the safety of your process over the way i go about it dig the rig man
π: 0 β©: 1
Definitely canβt beat the safety of this rig but the reliability needs some work. I ended up coiling ΒΎ mile of 14 gage steel and Β½ mile of 14ga aluminum last Saturday on a rig that I still need to post pictures of. It uses the same concept for the rod but doesnβt use the control block.
π: 0 β©: 0
Well, I just used a power drill in a stand with a 1/4 inch steel rod. The end of the wire goes into the the chuck on the drill. It does require care "goosing" the drill and heavy leather gloves are recommended.
π: 0 β©: 0
Definitely canβt beat the safety of this rig but the reliability needs some work.
π: 0 β©: 0
It isnβt without its flaws but I was able to make 7 meters of coils before it gave out. The next one I am going to make will be out of either Teflon or aluminum.
π: 0 β©: 1
At least is better than wind it up in a pen. I don't have enough funds to do something like this, so I need to do the coils using an useless pen
Good luck with your project
π: 0 β©: 1
Here [link] is a cheeper alternitive to using power equpment.
π: 0 β©: 0
Very well thought out. Curious to see if your idea of a pipe or change to aluminum block will keep it from making grooves inside the jig. Do you think that the aluminum will rub off onto or flatten the wire depending on the material used? Please post your results as would be interested to hear how it turns out.
π: 0 β©: 0
This design looks simple and clever. I think i will try it out, now that i have some spare time.
π: 0 β©: 1
It isnβt without its flaws but I was able to make 7 meters of coils before it gave out. The next one I am going to make will be out of either Teflon or aluminum.
π: 0 β©: 0
That's really awesome; I never thought of the notch idea. I just use a standard winch-design
π: 0 β©: 1
I use the crank method any time I work steel but I have recently been exploring methods of mass producing rings and this is one of the designs I came up with. If you check out my page I have a few different jig designs posted.
π: 0 β©: 0
Do you make your own chainmail?
π: 0 β©: 1
nop but I'm curious and I try to figure out how some people make things.
π: 0 β©: 1
If you want to see a few different types of jigs I have some other designs loaded on other parts of my page.
π: 0 β©: 1
No problem.
The only major drawback to this design is that the cut end carves a groove inside the jig if you use cheep wood. To fix this I have been thinking about adding a pipe insert or just making the whole jig out of an aluminum block.
π: 0 β©: 0