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Step 1
Buy different types of wire in different colors and thicknesses. You want a variety of wire so you can make different types of coils and chains. Buy galvanized steel if you are a beginner because it's cheap and easier to use than some other types of wire.
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Step 2
Use aluminum in a variety of colors like blue, red and pink if you want tp try a different type of wire. You can also use stainless steel, copper, bronze, brass, nickel and silver for different textures and colors.
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Step 3
Pick one type of measurement to use when you buy your wire because there are different ways to measure chainmail wire. This can be confusing when following patterns and ordering wire.
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Step 4
Wind your wire into rings using a mandrel. You can use one that you turn by hand or one that is electrical. Wind your wire into a coil and then take it off the mandrel. Cut the coil into individual rings. Use bolt cutters, shears or power tools to cut the coil. Buy already cut rings in different sizes if you don't want to make your own.
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Step 5
Buy the correct tools. You need cutters and pliers for making and twisting the jewelry. Use needle nose pliers for opening and twisting the chain and use adjustable pliers for closing the chains rings.
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Step 6
Design your own pieces of jewelry or follow instructions from patterns. You can make chainmail jewelry in various sizes and types, depending on the rings and the wire you use.
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Step 7
Make the chainmail by opening a ring, inserting a new ring and then closing the ring. Keep repeating these steps to join the rings into jewelry.
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Step 8
Learn how to speed weave if you want to make chain mail quickly. You close many of the rings at once so that you are working with open and closed rings together.
