Naomi knows: Notes about jump ringsJump rings: Shapes and sizes, techniques, and storage
by Naomi Fujimoto
Published: January 6, 2012 Happy New Year!
At the beginning of the year, I try to develop some good habits and shed some not-so-good ones. (Really, I do.) And you know what got me thinking about beading habits?
Jump rings.
They can attach a clasp to a chain. Or dangles to each other. They can change the direction a charm hangs, or add a bit of length in a finishing. And if you like chain mail, you can make an entire necklace, bracelet, vest, shirt — anything, really — with jump rings.
A lot of jewelry starts and ends with jump rings. What other finding can do so much?
Furthermore, if you use a jump ring incorrectly, it can cause a lot of misery. Who among us hasn't lost a charm from a bracelet or had a delicate necklace fall off?
So here are a few tips about working with jump rings.
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1. Choose a size that's right for your project.
When selecting a jump ring, consider the function and size of the parts you're attaching. For example, if you're attaching a lobster claw clasp and a 2 mm link chain, a 4 mm jump ring would work well. (You wouldn't need a heavy-duty jump ring.)
For a large clasp and large-link chain, use 5 mm or larger jump rings. You may also want to double up on jump rings for extra security.
If you're attaching a charm and a chain, consider oval jump rings: the dangle will pull toward one of the ends of the ring, lessening the chance that it will slip through the opening.
I don't keep a huge supply of jump rings handy. I tend to stick with 4 mm, 6 mm, and 10 mm. Those are outer diameters, by the way. If you do a lot of chain mail work, pay attention to whether a vendor measures their jump rings by inner diameter (ID) or outer diameter (OD). For Bead Style projects, our jump ring measurements are outer diameter, unless otherwise noted.
P.S. In the necklace finishing shown, I attached three 5 mm, 20-gauge jump rings. I didn't need them to add length. Rather, the bar half of the clasp wouldn't go through the loop half because the chain was too bulky. So the jump rings helped create a narrow finish near the toggle bar.
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3. Make sure you open and close jump rings properly.
For a refresher, check out our Beading Basics with step-by-step instructions on how to open and close a jump ring. Remember: Bring one pair of pliers toward you.
• Never unroll a jump ring to open it. You won't be able to roll it back to its original round shape.
• Don't open the jump ring too far. Open it enough to accommodate whatever you're attaching, but not so much that you're weakening or distorting the ring.
• A tool tip: To avoid marring or chipping the finish
on your jump rings, cover the jaws of your pliers with masking or
painting tape. |
4. Store your jewelry carefully.
Do make sure that delicate chains don't get tangled. Don't leave your charm bracelets in a bowl (or, say, throw all your jewelry in a ziploc at the bottom of your gym bag...).
And double-check your jump rings occasionally to make sure that they're still secure — especially with dangly bracelets that can get caught in sweater sleeves.
Take care of your jump rings, and they'll serve you well!
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