Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings

by Judy Freyer Thompson

There are plenty of ways to make jump rings, from specialty tools to simple household items like wooden spoon handles.

I've used spoon handles before, but they have limitations. You are restricted in size, and it can be difficult to keep the wire from slipping while wrapping, which makes tight, consistent coils harder to achieve.

A simple solution is to drill small holes into wooden dowels sized to match your wire gauge. This helps anchor the wire and makes wrapping much easier and more precise.

Instructions

I have chosen three gauges of wire, therefore I am drilling three holes in each dowel spacing a 1/3 of the way around.

Using the corresponding drill bit and pin vice or rotary tool, drill one hole in each size dowel you are using to match the wire size approximately ¼" deep.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, simple dowel mandrels

Using the permanent marker, label the holes for the corresponding size wire.

To make rings, use the flat nose wire pliers to make an approximate ¼" 90° bend in the end of the wire and insert the end in the drilled hole.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, Using the permanent marker

Use your thumb to secure the wire for the first wrap.

Wrap the wire around the dowel, applying tension on the wire.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, Use your thumb to secure the wire

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, Wrap the wire around the dowel

Snip the wire at the 90° bend using the flush cutters, slide the coil off the dowel.

Using the multi-purpose shear, cut the coil into rings.

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, bend using the flush cutters

Judy Freyer Thompson's Simple Mandrels for Making Jump Rings - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Jump Rings, Jump Ring, Making Jump Rings, Tools, cut the coil into rings

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire

H11-18D

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.85
Gold Club Price: $0.64

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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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Category: Tools
Technique(s): Making Jump Rings, Tools

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Judy Freyer Thompson

Judy Freyer Thompson has been creating since 2006 and is mostly self-taught. She is an artist with a diverse background ranging from farming to mechanical manufacturing to aerospace. Her jewelry and small sculpture reflect both her experience and fascination with materials that are earthy. More often than not she loves to 'think outside the box'. She loves to incorporate found objects and objects such as bones, teeth, fur in her work. These desires feeds her desire to design and create one of a kind pieces of art to wear. Her work has been in various galleries as well as being featured in magazines and books. Along with Kalmbach Publishing , she released Simple Metalwork Jewelry in October 2016. She is a freelance designer and writes projects for Wire Jewelry and other on line publications. By day, she is the Assistant Director of a School Readiness Program. She lives in CT with her husband Mel, daughter Madison, and kitties Truman, Binky and Layla