Chunky Steel Wire Chain

by Judy Freyer Thompson

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Chain Making
Skill Level: Beginner

Do you have some awesome focal pieces that scream for a chunky chain to showcase them? Make your own chunky chain to suspend them from! I used 16 gauge steel wire for this on, but I have also made this particular style of chain using 14 gauge copper wire. To make the links intriguing, add some dimension to the steel wire by hammering before you clean the tool oil off. Steel wire is tough to cut and rough on wire cutters, I suggest using an inexpensive pair and keep them just for steel wire.

Materials

19 gauge steel wire

Lesson Quantity: 2.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

16 Gauge Round Stainless Steel Craft Wire - 15 ft

H18-F16-15FT

Lesson Quantity: 6.50 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Price: $7.60
Gold Club Price: $5.70

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Tools

Wubbers Jumbo Round Mandrel Pliers

G2-1305

G2-1305
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $35.97
Gold Club Price: $26.98

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18 Piece Mini Punch Set With Auto Center Punch

G7-14

G7-14
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $22.95
Gold Club Price: $17.21

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Chasing Hammer with Wooden Handle, 1 1/8 Inch Face

G3-27

G3-27
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $13.95
Gold Club Price: $10.46

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Premium Steel Bench Block 2 1/2 X 2 1/2

G17-9

G17-9
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $15.97
Gold Club Price: $11.98

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Round Nose Wire Pliers

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Memory Wire Cutters - Pack of 1

G2-36

G2-36
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $10.38
Gold Club Price: $7.78

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Renaissance wax

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

SANDING SPONGES ASST- 5PC- 1EA GRIT 100-400

ABR-600.90

ABR-600.90
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

28 oz tin can

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle

G14-7

G14-7
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $5.57
Gold Club Price: $4.18

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Instructions

Step 1

To make (5) chunky links, cut (5) pieces of 16 gauge wire and file the ends flat. Hammer at this point if you desire on a steel bench block using the ball end of the chasing hammer.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cut 5 pieces of 16g wire

Step 2

Clean the wire using 400 grit sandpaper

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , clean the wire with sandpaper

Step 3

Make a 4mm eye loop on one end of a wire using round nose pliers, make a second eye loop perpendicular to the first on the other end of the wire

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Make a loop at each end

Step 4

Using the 18mm side of the mandrel pliers, wrap the wire around 2 ½ times.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Wrap around the mandrel pliers

Step 5

Adjust the eyes as necessary. Make the additional 4 links following the instructions above.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Make 4 more links

Step 6

Connect the links opening and closing the eye loops.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , connect the links

Step 7

Make (4) 8mm jump rings.

Step 8

Cut (6) pieces of iron wire and clean using 400 grit sandpaper. Make a curve in the wires using the 28 ounce can for the mandrel.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cut 6 pieces of wire

Step 9

Make 4mm eye loops on both end of the wires.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , make eye loops at both ends

Step 10

Slide one 8mm jump ring through the eyes on the 6” wires and close ring; repeat on other end.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , slip a jump ring through the ends of the 3 wires

Step 11

Cut (4) 4” pieces of 19 gauge wire and wrap around the three 16 gauge wires.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , xxx

Step 12

Secure using bent nose pliers.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Secure the wires

Step 13

Attach the 3-wire assemblies to the links.

Step 14

Cut a 3” piece of 16 gauge wire and clean using 400 grit sandpaper. Flatten both ends using a chasing hammer on the steel bench block.

Step 15

Using round nose pliers, make opposing eyes in each end then bend the wire into an ‘s’ shape.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , make an s-hook

Step 16

Attached one end of the ‘s’ connector to one jump ring, and close the gap. Slightly open the other end to serve as the hook clasp.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Chunky Steel Wire Chain - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , attach the hook clasp

Step 17

Seal the chain using Renaissance Wax or a clear spray sealant.

Reviews

Judy Freyer Thompson

Judy Freyer Thompson has been creating since 2006 and is mostly self-taught. She is an artist with a diverse background ranging from farming to mechanical manufacturing to aerospace. Her jewelry and small sculpture reflect both her experience and fascination with materials that are earthy. More often than not she loves to 'think outside the box'. She loves to incorporate found objects and objects such as bones, teeth, fur in her work. These desires feeds her desire to design and create one of a kind pieces of art to wear. Her work has been in various galleries as well as being featured in magazines and books. Along with Kalmbach Publishing , she released Simple Metalwork Jewelry in October 2016. She is a freelance designer and writes projects for Wire Jewelry and other on line publications. By day, she is the Assistant Director of a School Readiness Program. She lives in CT with her husband Mel, daughter Madison, and kitties Truman, Binky and Layla