As
with most chainmail resources the artist chooses to speak in the language of
wire sizes and ring sizes with which they are most familiar. This is confusing
if your supplier uses a different language. This paper is a translation for the
sizes used in the Weaving Silver DVDs and rings sold by The Ring Lord.
The
gauge conversion to The Ring Lord Sizes are as follows
|
AWG Gauge used by DVD |
SWG Gauge used by The
Ring Lord |
Inches |
Millimeters |
|
14 |
16 |
.064 |
1.63 |
|
16 |
18 |
.052 |
1.32 |
|
17 |
18 |
.045 |
1.14 |
|
18 |
19 |
.040 |
1.02 |
|
20 |
20 |
.032 |
.81 |
|
22 |
22 |
.025 |
.635 |
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. Roundmaille on the DVD
insert states it can be made with 18g wire
and a 5/32 mandrel. This would be our 19g and a 5/32 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 |
You
dont want to go one size tighter unless you really know what youre doing. One
size tighter would be the same wire (19g) but a smaller ID like 1/8. When
making rings you use a mandrel to wrap the wire. The wire then springs back to
slightly larger than the mandrel.
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 the DVD WE DID NOT TEST the 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.
More AR info and searches of rings by AR can be found by
looking a the weaves on our site.
European 4 in 1, Byzantine
(Bird Cage) (AR from 3.1 to 4.3)
16g 1/4
or 3/16 (one connector)
18g
3/16 or 5/32 (one connector)
19g
5/32 or 1/8 (one connector)
20g
7/64 or 3/32 (one connector)
22 g wire 3/32 ID
24g 1/16
European 6 in 1, Box Chain and Full
Persian / Persian 6 in 1
(Euro 6-1 best at AR 5.0, Persian 6-1 best at AR 5.6, Box use between AR
4.2 - 5)
18 g wire 1/4 ID
20 g wire 3/16 ID
22 g wire 1/8 ID
Half Persian / Persian 4 in 1
(AR 4.3 5.5, best at 5.0)
16 g wire 1/4 ID
18 g wire 7/32 ID
20 g wire 5/32 ID
22 g wire 1/8 ID
Japanese / Oriental (requires 2
sizes)
18 g wire 7/32 ID and 20g
9/64 ID
20 g wire 5/32 ID and 22g 3/32 ID
Jens Pind
(AR ~3.1 this is a finicky weave you have to get the AR
close)
16g 3/16
18g 1/8
20g 3/32
22g 5/64
24g 1/16
Parallel / Helm Chain (requires 2 sizes)
(Large rings AR 5.8, small
rings AR 3.6)
18g 1/4 & 5/32
19ga 1/4" & 19g 9/64
20ga 3/16'' & 20g 7/64
Dragonscale (requires 2 sizes)
(Large rings AR 5.8-6.1,
small rings AR 3.9)
18g 5/16 & 3/16
19ga 1/4" & 19g 5/32
20ga 3/16'' & 20g 1/8
Snake / Roundmaille
(AR 3 - 4.1)
18g 7/32
19g 5/32
20g 1/8
Turkish Round (AR 3.5)
16g 7/32
18g 5/32
20g 3/32
Oval (AR 5.2)
18g 1/4
19g 3/16
20g 9/64
Half Persian 5 in 1 Sheet (AR
5.8)
18g 1/4
20g 5/32
22g 1/8