You need to know the aspect ratios of the original rings and to make sure the smaller rings you use have a very similar ratio so the rings fit together properly.
Best size rings for chainmail.
The aspect ratio is important to know if you want to change the ring sizes in a project.
Mandala crafts chainmail aluminum jump rings in bulk for chain mail coif costume viking maille armor jewelry making 13 gauge 15mm silver tone 4 4 out of 5 stars 46 17 99 17.
Interestingly not all vendors measure jump rings the same way.
For instance say you want to make a weave with smaller rings to get a more delicate chain.
Examples of rings that make both 6 in 1 and 4 in 1 are 14 ga 1 2 qluot 16 ga 5 16 and 18 ga 1 4.
More about what aspect ratio is and how chainmaillers use it in the other answers in this section.
Any actual ring will be slightly larger due to springback.
If you re a beginner we suggest starting off with rings that have an inner diameter of at least size h 3 16 4 8mm.
Any smaller and you may become frustrated unless you re used to working with tiny things.
It also shows the aspect ratio ar of the ring here s the catch.
Some vendors measure jump rings by the outer diameter od and others by the inner diameter id.
This chart shows data for each ring from both wire gauge systems swg and awg decimal inches fractions and metric.
The chart below can be printed life size for quick ring size reference.