Chainmaille aspect ratio calculator plus#

Larger than 4 will still work, but the chain is more open and loses its beauty. Photo 6 Persian & byzantine bracelets by Dave Wilson.Ī byzantine chain, for example, requires an aspect ratio ideally between 3.5 and 4.0 Any less than 3.5 and you simply cannot make the chain. Hence the Aspect Ratio is vitally important, and each design will have a minimum and maximum ratio (see the table at the end) and this number is the secret to success. There must be enough space inside the ring for all the others to pass through it, but too loose and the design won't look right and may even fall apart. When it comes to more complex designs such as Persian chains and Byzantine where lots of rings pass through each other, this aspect ratio becomes vital. Just add or subtract two wires to get the info you need. In this case, 2 + 6 + 2 = 10 mm which will be the size of your fished bracelet.

Chainmaille aspect ratio calculator plus#

The outside diameter of the rings will be the inside diameter plus twice the wire diameter. Imagine drawing a line across the jump ring. We know the inside diameter is 6mm and we know the wire is 2mm. How big exactly? You can calculate that too. Wind your wire around a 6mm mandrel and your finished chain will have the same proportions as your first one, but be bigger. How big do you need to make the jump rings? Simple, if we stick to our original Aspect Ratio of 3, then the inside diameter is simply 3 times the diameter of the wire.Īspect Ratio 3 X 2 mm wire = 6mm inside diameter. Perhaps you want to make one much bigger, using 2mm thick wire. In this case, three really is the magic number. Whatever wire you use, simply select a mandrel which is three times bigger and you will get a lovely looking belcher chain every time. Pic 4 Same 1mm wire but now with an aspect ratio of 3.0. Inside diameter 3 / Wire diameter 1 = AR 3

Hence, in this case, the inside diameter is three times the wire diameter, meaning the aspect ratio is AR 3.0 This will make a lovely simple chain, that looks nice, is flexible and easy to make. So if we make the rings a little larger with an inside diameter of 3mm this would allow space for two jump rings and 1mm free. Ideally, you want a little bit of space for the chain to move freely. Pic 3. Round belcher with an Aspect ratio of 2.īut this would still be tight. Any less and you would not be able to make a chain. If the wire used is 1mm diameter then this means that the inside diameter of the jump rings must be “at least” 2mm to allow space for two rings to pass through. If you think about it, every single link has ‘two’ other links going through it. Just round links connected one after the other. Let us imagine that you want to make a simple round belcher chain. It is not possible to divide imperial measurements by AWG wire gauge.Īll measurements need to be in the same unit, mm. But to calculate this you do need to work in mm. And this is why it is so vitally important to making chains and chain mail. This ratio determines how many jump rings will fit through another one. a Hula Hoop has a very large aspect ratio. Conversely, thinner wire and larger diameter will increase the aspect ratio. Reducing the diameter or thickening the wire will reduce the Aspect Ratio. Whereas a larger aspect ratio will be more towards an exercise hoop, where the inside diameter is many times the thickness of the plastic part. The center hole is small compared to the overall diameter.

Put simply, Aspect ratio is the inside diameter of a jump ring, divided by the diameter of the wire.Ī jump ring with a low ratio would be quite chunky like a bagel. It will enable you to make any chain in the exact size and proportions you desire. Understanding this simple ratio is the key to mastering jump rings, chains, and chain mail.

When it comes to making chains and chain mail everything you make is governed by one important thing. This is because they haven’t followed the correct recipe. Sometimes, their chains haven’t worked out or they don’t look like mine. I am often contacted by people who have watched my YouTube videos on making Byzantine and Persian chains. Pic 0 large byzantine chain by Dave Wilson.