Lesson: Working with Commerical Chain

Lesson 8: Working with Commercial Chains
Unless you are creating a show-stopper one-of-a-kind piece, you will likely be working with commercial chain. Making your own chain is time consuming, and there are many options out there. When deciding between commercial and handmade chain, consider price point, time, and overall look and audience for the piece.
Non-Metal Chains:
• For any chain that is not metal, you will need to glue or crimp your end caps on. I recommend Devcon 2-ton epoxy. This particular epoxy has worked well for me on various surfaces.
• Longer drying epoxies have more strength, tend to yellow less, and become less brittle over time.
• Look for epoxies that are waterproof. Water –resistant is good also, but waterproof is better.
• If you bead, use superglue for beading only. It is not good for findings or stones; it becomes brittle in under a year.
• When using dyed leather or suede, check to see if the dye is waterproof.
End caps:
• Tube end cap:
o Cut a piece of tubing that the chain just fits into.
o Slip the chain in one end, and either your clasp or jump ring to the other end, and solder.
o If the tubing is wider than your clasp, solder one end of the tube to a piece of sheet, cut and file. Put chain in the open end, and line up clasp on the closed up end and solder.
o You can vary the tube end cap by making different shapes- you can use hollow beads instead of tubing for example.
• Open link chains:
o The neatest way to finish of chains that are made of open links is to solder a jump ring through the last link.
o If you have a tightly woven chain, like foxtail, use your scribe to open up a hole in the last couple of links, and solder a jump ring through.
o Your jump ring doesn’t have to be round- try different shapes.
o Solder a jump ring through the chain and onto an element for a more elaborate look.
Clasps:
• Think about using some of the design in your piece in the clasp as well. Some clasps work very well as a centerpiece also.
• A lot of clasps that are sold commercially have ways that you can modify them- addition of stones, or texture.
• Clasps are something that I recommend making- they personalize the piece, and most clasps can be cast to reduce time spent making them.

Tips:
• Link chains can be tumbled to harden them and give them better strength.
• Chains should NEVER be polished on the polishing machine or flexshaft.
• To polish a chain:
o Wrap one end in leather or thick fabric and secure in the vise. The wrapping is to prevent damage to the chain from the teeth of the vise.
o Rub a polishing cloth or scotchbrite up and down the chain while holding the other end.
• If using commercial end caps and clasps, choose ones appropriate to your design. If you have a simple design, get simple findings.
• Remember that the chains are part of the overall piece. Find ones that work for you. If possible find one or 2 styles, buy them in bulk and use them for multiple pieces.