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S7K 1P3 Ph 306.374.1335 Fax 306.374.3622 |
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As with most chainmail resources the artist chooses
to speak in the language of wire sizes and ring sizes they are familiar most
with. This is confusing if your supplier uses a different language. This paper
is a translation for the sizes used in Chains By Becky and rings sold by The
Ring Lord.
Page 9 shows a gauge chart - the conversion to The
Ring Lord Sizes are as follows
|
AWG Gauge used by Becky |
SWG Gauge used by The Ring Lord |
Inches |
Millimeters |
|
10 |
12 |
.102 |
2.59 |
|
12 |
14 |
.081 |
2.06 |
|
14 |
16 |
.064 |
1.63 |
|
16 |
18 |
.052 |
1.32 |
|
17 |
18 |
.045 |
1.14 |
|
18 |
19 |
.040 |
1.02 |
|
20 |
20 |
.032 |
.81 |
For reference in our online
catalog, every ring and wire is listed with decimal inches and mm. Please
always refer to these numbers when ordering. Also note that some wires vary in
exact size from other materials. For example 18g sterling is 0.045 and 18g
stainless is 0.048.
This info should be used as
follows. On page 12 Becky indicates Byzantine can be made with 18g wire and a
3.5 mm mandrel. This would be our 19g and a 3.5mm inner diameter. In sterling
the listing would look as follows:
|
Saw Cut Sterling Silver 19ga 5/32'' |
||
|
Jewelry Strength 225 Rings/Ounce |
Price: $ 12.80 /Ounce |
|
The next smallest rings
are smaller than the 3.5mm. You
dont want to go one size tighter unless you really know what youre doing.
When making rings you use a mandrel to wrap the wire. The wire then springs
back to slightly larger than the mandrel. Since Becky states a mandrel size of
3.5 mm, her rings will actually be slightly larger. The next larger number in
our catalog for 19g rings is the one shown here which states 4.1mm ID (inner
diameter).
You should also consider
aspect ratio when choosing a ring. Aspect ratio is the thickness of the wire
compared to the size of the inner diameter of the ring. AR=ID/wire dia. As
shown above the 19g 5/32 ring has AR= 0.16/0.039 = 4.1
When you want to use a
difference size of wire you should use this AR number to convert to the
appropriate inner diameter for the new wire for that weave. For example if I
was using the above ring to make a weave and then wanted to try it in our 18g I
would look in the catalog under 18g to find the ring with the AR closest to 4.1
be careful straying to far from the number some weaves can be finicky. In this
case in sterling its 18g 3/16 with and AR of 4.3.
Project Lists and Ring
Sizes with The Ring Lord wire and mandrels or rings
***PLEASE NOTE WE JUST
CONVERTED THE RING SIZES LISTED BY BECKY WE DID NOT TEST HER NUMBERS. If you
would like to use 18g in our wire size use one size larger ring. Feel free to
email us for assistance with ring sizes. The AR numbers are also approximate, -
they are just the size given by Becky converted. Some weaves will work with a
wide AR range and some will not.