Home / Jewelry Making Tips and Techniques / Jump Ring Tips

Jump Ring Tips

by Susan LeGuyader
Let's talk jump rings, not just the making there of but also the storage. Making jump rings is super easy and something that you can do while watching a movie or riding in the car or on vacation. While traveling, I always take a wire working kit with me. I'll go into how I set up a travel wire working kit in another tip.
Instructions
When making jump rings, you can use any gauge of wire. I tend to make jump rings in wire gauge of 18g, 16g, or 14g. 20 gauge wire is thin and can be a bit flimsy to hold up with weight of components.
Before starting your jump ring adventure, decide on the shape. Here, I'm making round but you can make them in many different shapes.
I like to trim the wire end flush before starting.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Tips - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, jump ring tips
Choose your mandrel, here I'm using Wubber mandrel pliers, sizes 3mm and 5mm. If you only need a few, you can start anywhere on the mandrel. Wrap the wire in close rings around the mandrel.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Tips - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, jump ring tips
After you've made your jump ring coil, hold the coil in your fingers. Position your flush cutters parallel to the coil and make your first cut .
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Tips - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, jump ring tips
Flip the flush cutters over and butt the cutters up to your previous cut and make your second cut. By using flush cutters, you have a straight cut on each side .
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Tips - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, jump ring tips
So, you've sat through a movie and made roughly 10,000 jump rings. Don't laugh, it is entirely possible. Your fingers will be chafed and sore. LOL. What do you do with all of those beautiful jump rings? Where are you going to put them? I use a variety of containers, as you can see.
Storage and organization for your jump rings is as important as a clean and tidy work bench. I like to label mine by size and gauge, like 5mm, 16g. That way, I know exactly what I have and what I need to make more of during the next movie.
Another step to consider is soldering jump rings. Having a stock pile soldered jump rings is great for quick design decisions.
Susan LeGuyader's Jump Ring Tips - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, jump ring tips

Materials

20 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20D
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $3.20
  • Gold Club Price: $2.40
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20 Gauge Round Dead Soft 14/20 Gold Filled Wire
H4-20D
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $6.90
  • Gold Club Price: $5.17
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Tools

Xuron Flush Cutter - Pack of 1
G2-504
  • G2-504
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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5 Piece Steel Mandrel Set
G7-5
  • G7-5
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
Add to Bag
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  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Making Jump Rings

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