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Description
How to Make Chainmail
"The Basics" - Continued

Part Five: Completing the Chain

You're on the home stretch now. This part is fairly downhill now that you've been able to connect them vertically, all you need to do now is connect them laterally. Connecting the rings laterally is somewhat easier than connecting them vertically, because the rings are now all in position and won't move around as much.

Step One
It's the same trick here. Open one ring and put it through four. Now you can see again - it's on the same row as those 'center links' between the four others. Loop it through, making sure it's slanted in the same direction, then close it.

Step Two
Repeat all the way down. If your links become oval or have gaps in them, you can attempt to remove the ovality by squeezing them with the pliars.

Step Three
There's a patch of chainmail. Now all you have to do is add to it, one row at a time. your methods will vary, but in the end it's more or less the same result.

Aluminium wire off the store shelf is often covered in dirt, dust and grime, so you can wash it off at this point, or if you like that steely, black look, leave it as it is, or even hold it over a wood fire to blacken the links. If you want that 'knight in shining armour' gleam and bling factor, polishing it with a nylon brush and toothpaste mixed with dishwashing detergent will really bring that shine out. Best of all, Aluminium doesn't tarnish or rust. Happy smithing and good luck!

Stay posted for the next tutorial, and thanks for reading.

Description
How to Make Chainmail
"The Basics" - Continued

Part Five: Completing the Chain

You're on the home stretch now. This part is fairly downhill now that you've been able to connect them vertically, all you need to do now is connect them laterally. Connecting the rings laterally is somewhat easier than connecting them vertically, because the rings are now all in position and won't move around as much.

Step One
It's the same trick here. Open one ring and put it through four. Now you can see again - it's on the same row as those 'center links' between the four others. Loop it through, making sure it's slanted in the same direction, then close it.

Step Two
Repeat all the way down. If your links become oval or have gaps in them, you can attempt to remove the ovality by squeezing them with the pliars.

Step Three
There's a patch of chainmail. Now all you have to do is add to it, one row at a time. your methods will vary, but in the end it's more or less the same result.

Aluminium wire off the store shelf is often covered in dirt, dust and grime, so you can wash it off at this point, or if you like that steely, black look, leave it as it is, or even hold it over a wood fire to blacken the links. If you want that 'knight in shining armour' gleam and bling factor, polishing it with a nylon brush and toothpaste mixed with dishwashing detergent will really bring that shine out. Best of all, Aluminium doesn't tarnish or rust. Happy smithing and good luck!

Stay posted for the next tutorial, and thanks for reading.