Tools For Working With Rings
Tools for Working With Rings
Once you have your wire wound into coils and cut into rings, you need tools to connect
them all together into chainmail. Fortunately, the tools involved need be no more
complex or specialized than two pair of ordinary slip-joint pliers.
Needle-Nose Pliers
Also known as Long-nose or radio pliers, needle-nose pliers have thin, elongated jaws
specially made for manipulating very small things. While they do seem to work well for
smaller rings with thinner diameter wire, larger rings made of heavier stock seem to work
better (in my own experience) when you use other types of pliers (see below).
One thing to note about needle-nose pliers: They do have a tendency to bite your
fingers, particularly favoring the little webby bits in between them. I have invented
several new and interesting words this way.
Ignition Pliers
Available in auto supply stores and department stores with a "tools and hardware" section,
ignition pliers seem to have been invented for use on the electrical systems of
automobiles and other things with engines. The look a lot like miniature versions of
plumbers' slip-joint pliers, and unfortunately have correspondingly small handles. I
understand that this was to allow them to be operated by the fingers in odd and
hard-to-reach areas, but in my own experience, they aren't all that easy to maneuver when
making chainmail (this is probably due to large, clumsy fingers. your mileage may vary).
Like the needle-nose pliers, they work best on small diameter rings made from thin wire. They are handy to have around when you're working in small spaces, when you can't easily get the jaws of full-sized pliers into where you're working. Feel free to try them for yourself and come to your own conclusion.
Ordinary Slip-Joint Pliers
Perhaps the most versatile, and certainly the easiest-to-find type, slip-joint pliers can
be found almost anywhere, including grocery stores. You can often find them for less than
$1.00 US per pair in discount stores. Just your standard tool, slip-joint pliers have the
ability to adjust for large (like grabbing a ring across the diameter) or small (like
grabbing one sideways) work.
Like most people who make chainmail, I started out using slip-joint pliers. They worked
fine for a while, though I did eventually have a little bit of a problem with the
grips rubbing and causing blisters, as well as sore hands from constantly having to
re-adjust my grip, depending on how I was trying to grab the rings. Because of this, I
eventually switched to...
Self-Adjusting Pliers
Within the last few years, several companies have started manufacturing tools that
operate just like adjustable pliers, except that they automatically adjust to the size of
the workpiece. I have found these (especially the smaller sizes) to be great for working
with chainmail. They automatically adjust between a wide and narrow grip, so you never
have to change your grip on the tool, and you always have a good firm grip on the work.
Another nice feature is that the pliers I use (7" Robo-Grip by Craftsman) are built up
from several layers of steel, and don't actually have any "teeth" cut into the gripping
surface, except for the coarse serrations farther back on the head. In practice, I only
use the tips of the jaws, so I never end up with "bite marks" on the wire like I used to
with "normal" pliers.
Handle Modifications
Eventually, most people modify the handles of their pliers. This comes mainly from an
effort to make it more comfortable to use them for hours at a time. I've seen
everything from intricately-knotted macreme to layer upon layer of duct tape. It's all
just a matter of personal style, and whatever is most comfortable for you.
Personally, I use a couple of pieces of 3/4 inch PVC pipe that have been slotted to fit
over the mechanism of my self-adjusting pliers. They are held on by a single zip-tie
across the open end of the slot. They aren't super-fancy, but they work just fine for
me.
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