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Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making . Cotter pins are locking pins used to secure bolts in place.

Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet

by Nancy Chase
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Cotter pins are locking pins used to secure bolts in place. This cotter pin chain link is a versatile chain that can be created in different gauges of wire to produce a delicate to heavy chain effect.

This project takes a bit of time. The chain construction needs to be accurate so that the links lie flat together.

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Materials

20 Gauge Half Round Half Hard 14/20 Gold Filled Wire
H4-20HRH
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $21.85
  • Gold Club Price: $16.39
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Gold Filled J Hook Clasp w/ Fig. 8 Connector Medium 16mm - Pack of 1
J3-73
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $11.46
  • Gold Club Price: $8.60
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Tools

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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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Flat Nose Nylon Flat Jaw With Spring
PLR-831.00
  • PLR-831.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.80
  • Gold Club Price: $10.35
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Instructions
Step 1
Cut 15 pieces of wire into 2 inch lengths. Use a marker to place a dot in the middle point of the wire.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cut lengths of wire
Step 2
Place one piece of wire in the middle of your round-nose pliers. Bend the wire gently to form a curve straight up from the middle.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , bend the wire around the round nose pliers
Step 3
Holding the pliers in one hand, use your fingers to bend one wire over the jaw of the pliers. Then bend the second wire over the pliers in the opposite direction so they like next to each other.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , cross the wires
Step 4
Use the flat-nose pliers to bend a 90 degree angle up from the center of the circle of wire.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , bend the wire straight up
Step 5
Straighten the wire as needed with the nylon-jaw pliers and the flat-nose pliers.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , straighten the wire
Step 6
Bend the second wire up from the circle center to form a traditional cotter pin. Trim the wire ends so that they are even with each other.

It is easier to get into a rhythm of creating the chain if you create all the links to this point. Then assembly will go quickly as you add each link to form the chain.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , bend the wire straight up
Step 7
Use the tip of the round-nose pliers to curl one side of one straight end up towards the circle, make a simple loop.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , make a loop
Step 8
Repeat this action with the second end of the pin, making them as close in size as possible. Mark your pliers to make it easier to keep the loops consistent.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , make a simple loop
Step 9
Begin to assemble the chain links.

Thread one end of the cotter pin links through one side of completed link.

Bring it up and around the loop so that it sits in the center of the circle.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , slip one link onto another
Step 10
Continue to close each end loop then add one link at a time to form the length you wish to achieve.

Add a simple handmade clasp using 18-gauge round wire.

Check the links to make sure they are not rough. Use the chain-nose pliers to adjust and smooth the links.
Nancy Chase's Handmade Chain Cotter Pin Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , add links one at a time

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