How to Cut Jump Rings With a Rotary Tool or Dremel
Jump rings are findings used in creating jewelry. When a jump ring is used to complete the end of a chain, the two ends should be soldered together for a permanent connection. It is helpful if jump rings are made with clean cuts, which are easy to file to a finished flatness that will accept the solder more easily. Conventionally, jump rings are cut with a jeweler's saw, but if your project demands hundreds or even thousands of jump rings, creating the required quantity can be made easier by applying a little power to the cutting.
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Things You'll Need
- Wood dowel
- Wire (non-ferrous)
- Dremel rotary tool
- 1/8-inch collet
- 1.25 diameter cutting blade
- Vise
- Eye protection
- Scrap leather (heavy type)
- Duct tape
Instructions
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Cutting Jump Rings With A Rotary Tool
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1
Wrap the wire tightly around three inches in the center of a six inch dowel. The sides of the wire should be firmly touching.
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2
Tear a strip of duct tape wide enough to cover one half of the wire on the dowel, lengthwise. Tape the wire to the dowel wrapping the ends of the duct tape over the ends of the wire on each end. This will hold the rings in place as you cut.
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3
Line the vise with leather strips so that the leather pieces are even with the top, gripping edges, of the vise. Use pieces of duct tape to hold them in place. The leather is used to soften the grip of the vise to protect from crushing the dowel and wire.
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4
Clamp the dowel in the vise with the tape side down. The top of the dowel should be even with the top of the leather-lined vise. The grip should be firm.
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5
Put on your protective eye wear. Turn on your Dremel and hold the tool so that the blade is parallel with the vise and dowel. Keeping the blade cutting edge vertical, bring the blade down so that you can guide it straight down on the wires. The tape should hold the wires in place and the dowel should act as a mandrel. Move the tool evenly down the dowel until all the jump rings are cut. Turn your Dremel off.
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6
Unclamp and release your jump rings from the tape.
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1
Tips & Warnings
It is important to make cuts straight into the wire rather than at an angle so that there will be less need for filing later if you solder the rings shut.
Wire can occasionally get loose, so always wear eye protection when using the rotary tool.
References
- Photo Credit ntmw istockphoto#481939
