Making your own jump rings means you are able to have them in any dimension you want and not have to wait for orders! So here are some good tutorials on how to cut your own jump rings manually i.e. just using flush cutters or a jewelry saw. The goal is to have clean, flush cuts where the edges butt together closely.
The video tutorial by Lisa Claxton of Beaducation is long (almost 30 minutes) but thorough as demonstrates how she coils wire and cuts the coils up into jump rings using first a flush cutter and then a jewelry saw.
The mandrels she uses are metal rods and wooden dowels with a hole for anchoring the wire. But there are also other alternatives like knitting needles or even bail forming pliers. These are adequate if you don't need very long wire coils. Knitting needles are great because you will be making known inside diameter rings. As she pointed out, general jewelry suppliers use the outside diameter of rings in their product descriptions. So be aware of that difference.
In the above video, the instructor uses a dowel for cutting with the jewelry saw. She also cuts with the coil in the horizontal position.
I rather like Joanne Tinley's tutorial over on her blog where she omits the use of the dowel and saw cuts with the wire coil in the vertical position.
The manual methods of cutting jump rings are fine if you don't need a whole pile of jump rings. Larger quantities will require faster ways of cutting. That will be for another day.
Before You Go:
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
The video tutorial by Lisa Claxton of Beaducation is long (almost 30 minutes) but thorough as demonstrates how she coils wire and cuts the coils up into jump rings using first a flush cutter and then a jewelry saw.
The mandrels she uses are metal rods and wooden dowels with a hole for anchoring the wire. But there are also other alternatives like knitting needles or even bail forming pliers. These are adequate if you don't need very long wire coils. Knitting needles are great because you will be making known inside diameter rings. As she pointed out, general jewelry suppliers use the outside diameter of rings in their product descriptions. So be aware of that difference.
In the above video, the instructor uses a dowel for cutting with the jewelry saw. She also cuts with the coil in the horizontal position.
I rather like Joanne Tinley's tutorial over on her blog where she omits the use of the dowel and saw cuts with the wire coil in the vertical position.
The manual methods of cutting jump rings are fine if you don't need a whole pile of jump rings. Larger quantities will require faster ways of cutting. That will be for another day.
Before You Go:
- 4 Ways to Make Short Wire Coils
- Coiled Wire Jewelry Tutorials to Try
- Jewelry Tutorials Using Jump Rings
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Jump rings...sigh....
ReplyDeleteYou can never have enough or the right size and metal you need when you are head down and blasting along at the bench...
I guiltily admit to buying in bulk the majority of sizes I need as I'm too lazy (mostly) or just don't have the time to make them.
What I did do was get myself a coil cutter for when I make my own. It helps immensely when trying to hold the coils.
Then a little time in the tumbler and voila!!
Yes, coil cutters make the task go easier. I do have one and use it when I need a particular size!
DeleteWith the price of supplies getting pricier and pricier one can truly save a lot of money by making their own findings. Though I tend to make most of my earring hooks and some of my clasps, I have always battled with making jump rings . . . or I should clarify that . . . to make nice, even, round jump rings. Perhaps I just need better flush cutters? Joanne's method looks very promising and doesn't require that constant need to flip, nip and then nip again to remove the pointy end of the wire that, not-so-flush, cutters leave behind.
ReplyDeleteI know this is something I really need to perfect as jump rings are a vital part of jewelry construction. I'll definitely be giving Joanne's method a try.
Good luck with trying! If you are game for something involving a Dremel, look into coil cutters.
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