Guide to Chainmaille Crafting
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Finn
New Member
About to take my first steps in the making of chainmail. I'd like to make my own shirt. I already have a shirt but it's made out of iron, and is darn heavy to wear. Hence why I want to try and make a lighter one.
By way of practice I'm going to make a juggling ball (hopefully all three of them - I have rings for three balls).
Thanks for all the tips.
By way of practice I'm going to make a juggling ball (hopefully all three of them - I have rings for three balls).
Thanks for all the tips.
The only real metal type i would worry about opening due to gravity would be Aluminum. And it really depends on what you'll be doing in the armor. just for wearing, Aluminum would be fine either way, but if you are making combat ready armor, you'll want a lower gage(thicker ring depending on the metal type) and deffinatly want it to run horizontally as previously stated. 
hope that helps.
I have done a few tests on what sheets i have(stainless steel) and even under extreme circumstances, the weave stays closed. Good luck and happy mailling!
hope that helps. I have done a few tests on what sheets i have(stainless steel) and even under extreme circumstances, the weave stays closed. Good luck and happy mailling!
Nial
Active Member
Wow what a cool thread and topic. As someone who's always loved all things medieval etc i had always fancied having a try at making some but never really understood the technique. It is pretty costy to buy so this is a great alternative. Thanks for posting this. One question,when you want to join your first 2 sets of 4 in 1s the ring to join them goes in the centre of the central line right? So between the 4?
Gibbtall
Well-Known Member
Not totally sure on what you're asking, but my suggestion is, do whatever gets the best result, heh. Connecting 2 pieces of maille together is pretty simple, you get two piece that look like there should be a ring connecting the two, and you connect them. If you're doing this with two large pieces, I usualy make sure that there is a single row or rings missing, so I can essentialy stich the two pieces together. Similar to this
SmilingOtter
Master Member
Yeah, unless you go through too many links, or too few, you're pretty much ok however you do it. Borrowing Gibbtall's picture,
The blue set of 4-in-1 is connected to the green set by the one red ring in the center, just like you described it. Since pretty much any method of weaving maille still boils down to closing one link after another, it isn't any quicker to add one link to your piece at a time, or construct the 4-in-1 bundles and then connect those together. It's all personal preference.
Now, the exception to that... there will be times when you'll want to make a piece wider or narrower. That's done with what are called expansions and contractions. Tutorials for each:
CGMaille.com - E4-1 Expansion
CGMaille.com - E4-1 Contraction
In those situations, you're pretty much forced to go the "one ring at a time" route.
The blue set of 4-in-1 is connected to the green set by the one red ring in the center, just like you described it. Since pretty much any method of weaving maille still boils down to closing one link after another, it isn't any quicker to add one link to your piece at a time, or construct the 4-in-1 bundles and then connect those together. It's all personal preference.
Now, the exception to that... there will be times when you'll want to make a piece wider or narrower. That's done with what are called expansions and contractions. Tutorials for each:
CGMaille.com - E4-1 Expansion
CGMaille.com - E4-1 Contraction
In those situations, you're pretty much forced to go the "one ring at a time" route.
Nial
Active Member
Thanks Gibbtall and SmilingOtter both you really helped. I thought i got it and as you describe it's what i thought. Both your pics above helped clear up what i was asking. Sorry i know it can be confusing when someone unfamiliar with the process is asking. Yeah i just kind of meant when connecting two sets of 4 in 1s like the direction and how many links to go through but now i think i am set. =D Thanks!
cyberpyrot
Sr Member
I have been mailing for a few years I love it... Here is some of my work.
Awesome work! I've been continuing to work on my chainmaille tunic, I took about 6 months off, and then started up again around January. I've been working on it a few hours a week, and just finished up the front half of the tunic last night. Using 16g 5/16 stainless steel rings, starting the back half tonight! Any tips or advice would be appreciated!
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