[Jewelry making - Article 00117] - Re: [Orchid] Chain mail - to solder or not to solder

[Margaret O'Brien]

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>     The general concensus seems to be that all links should always be
>     soldered, all speed ahead and damn the torpedos.  Is there a point
>     at which this becomes lunacy?  My Byzantine chain uses 20ga rings
>     at 5/32" ID, with a density of approximately 35 rings per inch.

    I'm with you on this one!  I've made chain where soldering felt
    necessary, but many tight, well made chains, using the appropriate
    ring size and guage, often don't require soldering in my mind.  If
    the rings are flush and put together properly, they shouldn't catch.
    For loose open weaves, say 4-in-1 7mm 18 guage, of course, solder
    them!  There is a point though where it's not sensible to do. 

    BTW, It's my understanding that the English name, as in Middle ages,
    was just chain.  French for it was just maille.  Chainmaille is a
    commonly accepted merge of the two words which was later modernized
    into chain mail.  If it were just French I think it's cotte de
    mailles, or something like that. 

    I totally geeked out with the etymology there. Sorry. 

Anywho, here's two cents,
margarita

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