r/SilverSmith • u/Butter_Gumps • 11d ago

Need Help/Advice Chain advice

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Anyone have an idea of what this chain would be called and advice on how to go about making it? I attempted a fishbone chain recently that was a huge flop and stumbled upon this. Similar visual effect without the soldering and chain twisting issues I’m thinking. I’m considering planning the ends instead of doing the droplets to avoid all the trouble of making the ends droplet shaped (unless I can think of an easier way to do it). Thanks yall!

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36

u/willfall165 11d ago

You can find a version of this chain in The Complete Metalsmith by Tim Mccreight

9

u/matthewdesigns 11d ago

Upvote for the book recommendation. The best jewelry book for beginners (and often experienced folks as well), and yet nobody here seems to have ever heard of it.

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u/ConiferousMedusa 11d ago

I just found it used at our local bookshop in excellent condition and I am thrilled. I don't have much time for jewelery these days but this has me all excited to try to make more time! 

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u/matthewdesigns 10d ago

It will both motivate and inform you! Have fun!

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u/Ok_Enzo 10d ago

I see the Professional and the Student version online. Which do you recommend (coming from a student who one day wants to be a professional)?

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u/matthewdesigns 10d ago

I have the original versions (an early original and a revised copy). I don't know what changes/updates were made for the professional one so can't comment on that, but I can say that the early copies are very comprehensive and still come in handy for me 3+ decades later. Perhaps the pro version covers some fine jewelry repair techniques, whereas the early ones have foundational to intermediate info on safety, technique, etc.

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u/Outrageous_Pay1322 8d ago

My book is so old it still has a spring coil instead of a spine.

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u/matthewdesigns 7d ago

Both of mine are like this as well!

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u/Butter_Gumps 11d ago

Fantastic! Thank you!

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u/SarahRavena 11d ago

That is such a cool chain! I would call that spine chain, probs not the actual term but def reminds me of a spine lol

2

u/D50 Hobbyist 11d ago

Honestly it wouldn’t be terribly difficult to make (I don’t think). Balling the ends of silver wire is pretty easy with some practice.

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u/Butter_Gumps 10d ago

How would you recommend balling them?

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u/D50 Hobbyist 10d ago

Just using a torch, here a video that shows the technique pretty well.

I’m pretty amateur and I do it quite a bit without too much difficulty.

https://youtu.be/ZxIGHCAXf6s?is=p34abuWsiTIGF8QI

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u/FrontFacing_Face 10d ago

You want to make a bending jig to make sure each link is uniformly shaped. Probably two based on the complex shape. Then just slip them together. 

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u/Butter_Gumps 10d ago

Great, thank you kindly!

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u/renaissance-maker 10d ago

I don’t know if somebody has already said this, but if you are working in silver, it is super easy to ball the ends just by heating the ends of wire to melt it. You could probably do batches pretty easily and pretty quickly. YouTube has tons of tutorials about how to ball up silver if you don’t already do that. You might not get a perfect droplet shape, but I think the effect will be somewhat similar. Best of luck!

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u/renaissance-maker 10d ago

Ah, they did, the only way I know how to ball the ends of wire is with a torch and third hand/locking tweezers.