What You Will Need For Chain-mail

Like I mentioned previously, there is a fair list of things that you will need or want to assemble before you sit down to begin the project at hand. For something small, like a dice bag or a change pouch, there isn't too much you need, but first I'll go over the basics, stuff you have to have to even work with it.

What You Will Need:
Needle-nose Pliers x2 - you can get them at any hardware store, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Etc. Try to get ones that do not have the little ridges on the inside of the tip if you can help it, as that can make burrs in the metal that can scratch the skin. 5-inch ones are usually best. They can range from 4$ all the way up to 22$ in price. Its up to you how much you want to pay, but remember, the key thing is comfort. If the tool isn't comfortable in your hand, you'll hate using it and never touch it.

Wire - You can go two ways with this one by either using this wire to make your own rings or buy the rings pre-made. The wire is going to be the body of your project, and the gauge depends on what your making. If its for decoration or costume, go for a higher gauge number. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. If your making armor, most recreation groups have a set requirement for the gauge, usually between 14 to 16 gauge. Don't go to more than 12 gauge, as it becomes even harder to work with by hand.
If you're like me, and want to do everything from scratch, then you would want to go hunt around for a good deal on just raw wire. You can get it, once again, at a hardware store like Home Depot in lengths ranging from 100ft on up. Some ranch-supply stores also carry it in smaller coils. I personally used to buy it in 100ft lengths of galvanized steel wire from a farm supply shop in my home town for about 3$ a roll when I made armor. Bulk is cheaper, but once again, its a matter of time and size of project. If you decide to make your own rings, it adds several steps and a few more tools, which I will list under optional equipment. If you plan on doing a lot of projects or several large ones, its worth investing in everything from the beginning. Or if you just want bragging rights.

Rings - Thankfully, today's modern age of connection between people via the Internet means that it is possible to find just about anything. In this case, someone else who has already gone to the trouble of shaping raw wire into rings and cutting them to size. They come in an assortment of colors, sizes, gauges, and materials. As with buying your own wire, what kind and the cost associated with it. A good website to check would be http://www.theringlord.com/. They have tons of different size rings for competitive prices. Plus its one of the few places I've found that sell titanium rings. I know that its not period accurate, but hey, gotta make sacrifices for coolness somewhere, right?

Important Note: Depending on what your making, you must keep in mind what you are using to make the item. If your creating a nifty keyring or a kinky outfit, you can go ahead and use those royal purple aluminum rings you found online. If your trying for a period appropriate costume or functional armor for SCA or other Live Action Role Playing groups, they have specific rules and guidelines for what the armor can and cannot be made from. Sometimes they do allow you to use non-period materials, but at a penalty.

Optional Equipment:
Mandrel - this is the tool that you use to turn the raw wire into uniform rings. I will go over how to make one from home that is suitable for work with chain mail later on. The key thing for this particular item is that you have something strong to attach it to. A work bench or a saw-horse is best, but in a pinch you could use a desk or a table.

Wire Cutters - you'll need some pretty heavy-gauge wire cutters. I prefer the flat headed ones like these to the left here. You want to be sure to get a good strong set if your going to be cutting a large amount of rings yourself. If you don't, it can really do a number on your hands. I know this from first-hand experience actually. Plus, after awhile of use, the duller edge doesn't make as clean of a cut, which can leave the rings looking sloppy, or with a sharp edge that can catch clothes, hair, or skin. These can range from a few dollars on up, depending on where you get them. They can also range in size from smaller, hand-sized ones to big ones that could take a finger if you don't watch them. I prefer the smaller sets, replacing them as they get dull. As before with the needle-nose pliers, comfort is the most important factor. If the tool isn't comfortable in your hand, you'll never use it.

File - This is optional as well, but it tends to be fairly important. You'd need a small hand file to smooth away any rough edges that might catch hair or cut skin. In a perfect world, your tools would never leave rough bits or uneven cuts and burrs on the metal. Realistically, the average chain-mail tunic can take anywhere from 4,000 rings and up depending on the weaving style. All it takes is one ring with a sharp edge to cut the skin and ruin the fun.

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