How to Make Chain Links

Chain link is a strong connection piece that can be used for swing sets, bike chains or a tie down piece for your truck. It can be made with various grades of metal and is used in projects as small as delicate jewelry or as big as heavy construction. With a little practice, the process of making the links will become a natural and a quick process.

Things You'll Need

• Metal wire
• Steel anvil
• Metal smithing hammer
• Solder
• Torch
• Safety glasses
• Pickling solution in crock pot
• Pliers
• Solder pic
• Flux and brush
• Bolt/wire cutter or metal hand saw

Instructions

1. 

   Select the grade of wire you would like to use for your project. The thicker the wire, the harder it will be to shape, but the stronger duty it can provide. Clean off any dirt spots or soil.

2. Use the torch to soften the metal if using a thicker wire. Heat it until it glows a slight orange. Then take it to the pickling solution to cool off and clean off debris from the torch. If using smaller wire for jewelry, heating it first is not necessary.

3. 

   Take the wire to the steel anvil and use the hammer to shape it around the small round area into an oval shape. Cut the wire once the initial shape is formed so the remaining piece can be shaped to the oval. Keep working the wire around the anvil until the oval is formed. Make sure the two ends meet up exactly.

4. 

   Take the formed link to the torch area. Be sure to wear safety glasses when using the torch. Place the flux with the brush around the area where the two ends of the oval meet up.

5. Cut the solder pieces that will be used, these should be small 1/8 inch square.

6. Heat the link with the torch evenly until it glows a light orange. Using the solder pic, place the solder in place on the flux where the ovals ends meet.

7. Keep heating the link and solder evenly until the solder melt and connects the link together.

8. Place the link in the pickling solution and clean off any excess residue.

9. Begin to form the next link. Once you have cut the wire to size, place the first made link into the oval being formed. Then finish shaping the link into the oval shape.

10. Take the second link to be soldered the same way the first one was. Continue this for each link until the length of chain desired has been achieved.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful with all equipment.