Ring size for chainmail?

For something like a coif or a shirt for a beginner I would start with something around 14 gauge, about 3/4" diameter. You can make the links at home by getting a large amount of wire and coiling it tightly around a metal dowel. You can rig the dowel to a simple mounted crank. Once you have the coil, simply clip the rings with a wire cutter. It's a bit time consuming, but much cheaper than buying rings, especially since such projects take sooooo much material. The Ring Lord is indeed a good place to look for how to weave the rings and various other tips.

Have fun! It's definitely an addictive craft.

Chainmail Ring Size

I went to Ring Lord (www.theringlord.com) to see what sizes they had. However, they don't specify the size, only that you buy the rings by the pound. But it's a good site to peruse as they have instructions, tools and supplies needed to make chain maille.

I do remember watching a SCA chain maille crafter many years ago. The man said he'd been working on a coif for 2 weeks and he was only half done. He also pointed out he couldn't work with the tiny rings for more than a couple of hours before his hands would cramp. I could see why - the rings he was using were probably less than 1/4" in diameter!

It depends on the pattern you are using for the shirt, and also the type of ring you get. Rings come in all sizes and wire gauges. The Ring Lord sells hauberk kits that come with about 25 pounds of rings, which in 14 gauge 3/8" galvanized steel would be about 11,250 rings.

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