Any advice on how to estimate how many rings I’ll need? I’d rather make sure I get more than enough first go than end up with too little.

So I just received my order from the Ring Lord, and noticed my pack of etched scales have the etched pattern on the concave side (i.e. the "back"). I thought maybe this was a mistake, but I looked on their website and it does state that they're supposed to be on that side. While it doesn't completely kill my plans, it won't be as cool as I had hoped. My question is, what is the point of putting the etching on the side that you won't really see?

I’m new to chain mail but I’ve seen this photo around and would really like to attempt it. Does anyone know where I can find a pattern for this? or should I just eyeball it?

I’m very new to chain mail and am currently practicing with aluminum rings that are much thinner. Thank you for your help!

The title says it all. I'm looking to matte gold jump rings, and the ring lord is OUT OF STOCK of 3 of the sizes I need.

I don't see any on chainmaille joe.

I've been searching Etsy for a week and am still coming up short size wise, a few shops have one or two I need in just quantities of 10.

There's one more site in checked that I'm at a loss for their name RN but WHWRE DOES ONE GET MATTE GOLD IN A VARIETY OF SIZES?!? Preferably in a time crunch, my time has been shortened with lack of stock .

I started off with shiny aluminum rings and am seeking a darker more dull flat silver color, without necessarily going to steel. Though I'm not opposed but that still leaves me seeking matte gold.

Are the anodized silver aluminum rings a darker silver color than the shiny? Is it darker and still shiny or darker and more matte?

Are the anodized gray rings a darker silver color? Or does it look more gunmetal gray?

I was thinking maybe titanium would be the move but I know that can discolor a bit with wear and with opening/closing rings. And it's just less desirable malleable wise.

What about anodized gold aluminum rings? I've seen two colors, one more yellow and one deeper, but both still seem . . . . Shiny?

I've been looking on TRL and CMJ , I wish places had better comparative color swatch photos. I've noticed on some TRL products they have a disclaimer saying that that batch of rings isn't matte like previous batches and so it seems inconsistent in finding them even?

I tried to look through old posts for this but nothing fruitful emerged with 'matte' 'dull' or 'color' searches.

I saw this post on a meme page and I unironically loved it. How feasible/practical is it to make something like this? I was thinking of making a 4’x6’ blanket using 16g 3/8” anodized aluminum which would put me at about ~30,000 rings. My main concern is metallic dust and snagging. Would it be worth the investment to go for stainless steel to avoid aluminum dust? Is aluminum dust even that bad or am I being overly concerned? For snags, I was thinking of soldering the loops if it really becomes a problem. Open to any ideas/suggestions that might make this whole endeavor easier.

What measurements do I need for a scale mail vest to figure out how much materials I’ll need? I’m planning on using large scales

I’m wanting to make a scale mail vest for my prom suit cause why not as of today 2/21 I have 59 days to make it where do I start? Edit : would it be better to make the materials like the Jump rings and scales? Edit : how do I measure myself for a vest how do I figure out how much materials I’ll need

I'm looking for either a way to make a more stable elfweave, or have a similar pattern. I can find pics of weaves, but putting it together is another thing

Anyone got ideas and a handy tutorial link?

I’ve been thinking about picking up maille making as a hobby. I’d like to make the jump rings myself rather than buy them, but I’m not sure which wire to use for that.

I can get 400 ft. of 16.5 gauge rebar tie wire for 10 bucks, or 200 ft. of 16 gauge galvanized steel wire for 8 bucks. I’ve heard that rebar tie is good because it’s inexpensive, but I’m worried that it might be too malleable. I’m not exactly planning on using this in combat, but I’m a bit of a history buff and I’d like something at least comparable to what real knights would’ve worn.

Is it worth it to go for the rebar tie? Or would I get a better quality hauberk with galvanized steel?

Hi all!! I'm looking to make a sleeveless chain mail top as part of a project to incorporate and meld historical and functional articles of clothing with modern day fashion. Was hoping that you all could help me narrow down weave, ring size and material.

Weave/Ring Size

• I'm torn between European 4-1 (easier for a beginner to get the hang of) and 6-1. I want the weave to be dense enough (if even actually possible) that the individual who will be wearing it - theoretically doesn't need to wear anything underneath (i.e. dense enough you couldn't flash anyone, or that nipple pasties wouldn't be terribly noticeable). I'm assuming this is likely a combo between ring size and the weave - and I'm deferring to you all - because I have absolutely no idea what would be best and my internet searching has been confusing.

Material

• The goal with making the top sleeveless is to make the shirt more mobile and less restrictive (could be off base and any suggestions would be super welcome). The shirt itself isn't going to be very long (14-18in) - but I'm worried about how heavy/restrictive the shirt might be with medium physical activity (jumping up and down). I love the idea of staying as close to "functional" and something with a bit of weight to it (i.e. using steel over aluminum). Do you think using stainless steel rings, would inhibit jumping around and not worth the trade offs that aluminum offers?
• Rather than steel, I'm also considering bronze or brass. Does anyone have any experience with these and know how working with those materials is different? General longevity? How much heavier would a bronze shirt be over a steel one?

If the shirt is a rough 14in by 14in by 9in (pretending there are no arm or head holes to make the math easy) - what's a good estimate for how many rings I'd need with European 6-1? I attempted to do the math myself - but does about 6000 sound right?

Thank you!!

304 stainless 20ga

Eu 4 in 1, I'll provide updates to this project. Thinking about making a hauberk. Love the way it's looking so far. I don't know if I want it to be butted for ceremonial purposes or flatten the part where I snipped the rings and use a jewelry welder. What do you think?

I'm trying to make chainmail using the european 4-1 pattern as I understood it to be the easiest to get to grips with and I just... completely suck at it. I can make one "row" where I start with four attached to one ring, then hook through two of the rings one ring with two more attached. I can do that forever no issue. Making a second row... impossible. I try to hook a ring through where it is meant to go and it's like the whole thing has a life of its own. I pick it up and put it down and it turns into a huge tangle and doesn't sit like the chainmail I see in tutorials.

Am I just stupid? I am trying to pay careful attention to how each ring is sitting, whether it's hooking over or under the rings joining to it but its like it's possessed!

I'm using some cheap pliers I got from hobbycraft and cheap chinese jumprings that are 10mm diamater and a very thin gauge. I feel like a bad workman blames his tools but I think the rings are maybe too thin?

I made this weave a long time ago, and forgot what is called - I started making a half persian 3 in 1 but it doesn't look the same I don't think. Any ideas?

My original design.

How do yall polish stainless rings? Also, is it possible to polish say, a chain that's already been made? I have a bunch of loose stainless rings that kind of dull looking. And I figured out while making a wallet chain that they are kind greasy and dirty.

I tried to use some metal polish, but that just made the inner part of the weave worse and harder to clean. I've used wd40 and 2000 grit sandpaper to try to polish the outside of the chain. Cleaned it off with carb cleaner. That worked somewhat, but just for the outside of the chain.

Any advice will help.

I have a scale maille tunic in medium red aluminum scales. I made it several years ago, and in the intervening time the scales have gotten a greyish patina over them, and I am not sure what the appropriate procedure is to clean it. Do I need a certain oil, polish, tools? Do I have to clean scale by scale or could I put it in a bath of something and just let it soak till it's clean?

I've been searching around online and all I get are results on how to make scalemaille and basically nothing on cleaning and maintenance.