Easy Brass Bracelet, the Anchor Chain

So for this instructable I'm going to make for you an anchor chain bracelet, it's maybe the simplest chain to make and I'm going to make it with oval soldered rings, but if you don't know how to solder it's ok, you can make it without soldering! This type of chain is pretty self explanatory, it's the chain used to pull up anchor since forever! And it's what chain makers call the 1 in 2, or 2 in 1, and it's basically links in a simple row.

• 2mm 85/15 brass wire (I used this gauge because it works even if it's not soldered I'd recommend using from 1,5 gauge and up if you intend to leave it unsoldered)
• Propane flame torch
• A welding machine with needle points (mine is a bit dated but it's functioning alright!)
• Borax paste (made from borax powder and distilled water 1:1)
• 50% silver solder 0,7mm

• A screwdriver (6mm gauge)
  • For this you can use any metal rod but it needs to have the right gauge for the chain to be loose enough, I used 2mm wire so the rod should be 2x3, so to be sure you just go with [wire gauge]x3
• A power drill

• 2x Flat nose pliers
• 1x Regular pliers
• 1x Round nose pliers
• 1x Thin nose pincers

• Iris jeweller's saws
• A piercing saw and wax
• Brass bleach
• A grinding wheel for polishing with a brass wire round brush and a cotton round brush
• A piece of wood with a screw in it so you can roll the chain and secure it on the wood
• Yellow abrasive paste for brass

So the first thing you have to do is cook the wire. That is to soften it. You go at it with the propane torch flame till it's red hot and then dump it in water.

So the next step is making a coil. To do it you have to insert the one end of the wire and the screwdriver (or whatever other metal rod you have) in the drill and start twisting it slowly (if your power drill has a speed regulator go with the slowest). You sould keep it stable with your hands so it forms a regular coil. You might need to make more than one coils depending on the length of the rod.

So now you have the coils, you'll have to cut the rings. Most people would think the easy solution is cutting pliers but that is a big no-no. Cutting pliers tent to cut in an angle and that is a big problem as the rings won't close perfectly. The right way to do it is with a jeweller's saw.

The next thing to do is close the rings (mind you! not all of them!) I like my chains loose so I used 32 rings to make this one, so just close half of the rings you will use for the entire chain. Use the flat nose pliers and bend the ring around till the ends meet perfectly.

*If you don't know how to solder or don't have a way to then you can skip this step.*

Now you'll have to solder half of the rings. I use always the borax paste as flux and for this project I used a needle point for my welding machine soldering flame and 50% silver solder.

So to make the chain you get the other half of the rings (the ones not closed yet) and you start by putting two closed (and soldered for those who did it) rings in an open one and then closing it so that the ends meet perfectly. You go on till it's long enough.

*If you don't know how to solder or don't have a way to then you can skip this step.*

You should arrange the non soldered rings with thin nosed pincers so they face with the open side upwards and then dab some borax paste and solder away!

To make the clasp you'll need the round nosed pliers and a piece of 2mm gauge brass wire approximately 5cm long. You'll have to bend it as it is shown in the photo, you can bend it in different shapes but this is the general idea. You will then have to add the clasp in one end of the chain (I added a ring 'cause I wanted it a bit longer)

*If you don't know how to solder or don't have a way to then you can skip this step.*

In this step you'll have to solder the last link and the chain side of the clasp.

To take off soldering and flux residue I use brass bleach "Decaro" that I find in Italy but there are other bleaching solutions you can use or you can simply use a 10% citric acid solution. You put it in the bowl with the bleach slowly using some pincers so avoid using the bleach which is highly acidic, this way you don't risk getting a chemical burn! Leave it in for 3-5 minutes if you use brass bleach and then fish it out with pincers and rince it with water. If you don't have a brass bleach acidic solution and use the citric acid solution you'll have to put it in a pan and let it simmer with the bracelet for about 15-20 minutes.

*If you don't know how to solder or don't have a way to then you can skip this step.*

So for those of you who soldered the rings, it's time to bend them into shape.You get the regular pliers and bend the rings into oval shaped links.

So now the bracelet is quite almost complete, the only step missing is the polishing.

You do the first round without any paste on a brass wire round brush but ***ATTENTION!*** and I can't stress that enough, YOU NEVER polish a chain without any support. You'll have to use a piece of wood with a screw to secure the chain because if it's loose you can risk hurting yourself with the grinding wheel as it can catch!

After that you put some abrasive paste for brass polishing on the cotton round brush and you go in to polish the chain again keeping it securely in place and turning it around in between. And that's it.

Now your brass bracelet it complete and you can show it off to your friends!