Jump Ring Rescue

by Susan LeGuyader
Shall I make it dramatic? So, there I was, making a paper clip chain and I sawed my jump rings wonky. Filing was going to be needed, but how was I going to file the ends of these small jump rings, without screwing them up further? What to do? What to do?
Instructions
It wasn't really dramatic but it was as dilemma. What do you do when you are cutting jump rings to make chain or because you want to solder them closed and your ends are not smooth? This can happen with both a saw and definitely with flush cutters. You cannot solder a jump ring closed if you do not have a smooth butt joint. Solder will not fill a gap. If you file, unguided by hand (and yes, I've done this too), you can end up filing forever, never getting a flat surface. My jump ring is too small and wrong size to fit in a miter vice.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Rescue - , General Education, , jump ring rescue
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Rescue - , General Education, , jump ring rescue
What I've come up with is parallel jaw pliers and needle files. Before using my parallel jaw pliers, I did take a big file and file the ends flat and shiny. I didn't want the pliers to mar my jump ring.

Twist the jump ring open, open enough to get a small file in there without touching any other part of the jump ring. Place jump ring in the pliers with the open end perpendicular to the top of the pliers. I look out the window, to get a clear and bright view of the end of my jump ring in relation to the end of the pliers. To make this process simpler, I did ben the top of the jump ring (cut side) flat. This allows me to line up the ends for a better solder seam. After flattening, it looks like a "D". After soldering, I use a mandrel and a nylon mallet to round it out again.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Rescue - , General Education, , jump ring rescue
Then, hands braced... you can use your bench or your bench pin, whichever is most comfortable for you, file the ends of your jump ring flat. Double check to make sure it's flat. There you go, an easy way to make certain you get a good clean and flat seam to solder for jump rings. I used this method with 12mm, 10mm and 6mm jump rings in making my paper clip chain.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Rescue - , General Education, , jump ring rescue

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.20
  • Gold Club Price: $2.40
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18 Gauge Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-18H
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $4.66
  • Gold Club Price: $3.49
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Tools

7 Inch Coil Cutting Jump Ring Making Plier with PVC Comfort Grips - Pack of 1
G2-110
  • G2-110
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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The Quad Jump Ring Former
DUR-1312
  • DUR-1312
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $380.00
  • Gold Club Price: $285.00
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Wubbers Round Mandrel Pliers - 5 Plier Set
G15-18
  • G15-18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $149.95
  • Gold Club Price: $112.46
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education