Chainmail wire jig

thingiverse

I made a simple jig to speed up wrapping rings for chainmail. This design was created for a 3/8 ID and winding rod, using 16 gauge wire. I powered it with a fairly standard cordless drill. A 3/32 hole is drilled through one end of the rod. Using the jig took some getting used to at first. Set it in a vice with the wider end facing away from the end and the small hole free. Facing up worked best for me. Starting a wrap can be tricky. Thread the wire through both the small hole and the hole in the rod. To start, push the drill and let it make one or two rotations. From there, pull on the drill constantly and let it run. The coils can only exit one end of the jig, so they won't overlap. Once started, the coil will continue to work through the rod and wire on its own, but you need to keep pressure on it to keep things tight. If not, you'll get very loose coils. It's usually best to cut the wire and let it run through the jig if there's ever a problem. Starting a new wrap is easier, faster, and less wasteful than trying to sort things out while attached. If you're using PLA, this jig won't last long. Consider having a spare if you plan to do a lot of wrapping at once.