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Daily Wire Tip Oct. 10: Cutting Jump Rings

By on October 9, 2010
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
October 10, 2010

Question:

When cutting jump rings, how do you have a flat surface on both edges? Am I using the wrong type of cutter if one side is always pointed, and not flat?

-Kathleen in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Answer:

The best way I know to cut jump rings and end up with two flush edges is to make a coil, insert it into a padded vise (I pad mine with industrial felt), and then use a jeweler’s saw that is lubricated with beeswax to cut the rings. I put a towel on the floor to catch them as they drop. There are many jump ring cutting machines available today as well. As I do not make a lot of chain maille designs, and only use a few jump rings, I do “double-cut” them as I go.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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12 Comments

  1. avatar

    Lisa

    October 10, 2010 at 8:39 am

    What do you mean you say you “double-cut” your jump rings?

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      October 10, 2010 at 10:03 am

      Lisa when you cut a wire you will have one almost flush/straight end and one that is angled. ‘Double cut’ means to then cut the angled end so it is as straight/flush as it will get so the ring will close as cleanly as possible.

  2. avatar

    Vicki

    October 10, 2010 at 10:48 am

    After you cut your coil with the cutting tool you can also do this to make a straight/flush cut as I was taught to file the jump ring with a mini file to make it flush/straight. You need to open the jump ring to do this correctly.

  3. avatar

    Suzane Jolivette

    October 10, 2010 at 11:22 am

    I read someone, wiser than myself, coiled wire, wrapped the coil in masking tape, cut the wire with a jeweler’s saw, peeled the tape and reveled perfect rings, none on the floor.

  4. avatar

    Marie Yeomans

    October 10, 2010 at 11:31 am

    instead of using a vice I use a piece of wooden dowel which you can buy cheaply from hardware stores and comes in many sizes. Put the coil on the dowel and hold onto the coil and make the first cut through the wood into the coil, I find this way the saw goes straight into the metal without slithering about making scratches.
    Then just keep pushing the coil up the dowel as you go.

  5. avatar

    Carol Wilson

    October 10, 2010 at 11:38 am

    I recently learned a trick from a woman I have taken wire work classes from. Make the coil as usual and remove the coil from the mandrel you have used. Use your flush cutters to snip the first coil, then turn the cutters over so that the flat side is opposite to what it was and snip the next one, then flip them over and snip the next one…and so on. I really does work!

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      October 10, 2010 at 5:34 pm

      Thanks Carol.

  6. avatar

    Macie

    October 10, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Thanks that helped.
    I appreciate the professional advice you give.
    I will be looking to you for some formal education after the holidays.
    Macie
    Nampa, ID

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      October 10, 2010 at 5:33 pm

      Awesome Macie – I look forward to meeting and working with you in person : )

  7. avatar

    Jill

    October 10, 2010 at 7:30 pm

    Dale,

    As I read the comments, I was thinking of making the comment to “double cut.” Thanks for the name of the cut. I din’t know that.

  8. avatar

    patricia cringle

    October 10, 2010 at 9:19 pm

    Garden Heart Pendant Ive never seen anything more gorgeous