Just the tip
Categories: Projects and equipment
Word count/read time: 401 words; 2 minutes
This is neither a part 2 of the first
jump ring stretcher
nor a remade version of it.
Instead it is a different design for heavy duty applications and to use on existing chains.
It is made for a specific purpose being more of a spreader than stretcher.
The first stretcher is for small or thin wire
and individual jump rings, perfect for loop-in-loop chains. It
wasn't designed to accommodate thick and strong rings or chains.
One tool can't effectively do everything...a tack hammer
is quite different than a 15lb sledgehammer.
Spreading or stretching jump rings into an elongated rectangle or oval is
easy. There are many ways to do it: round nose pliers,
parallel jaw pliers, dowels, and jigs. All work good
but require some finagling to ensure a consistent and
precise outcome. Efficient they were not.
I was making a new
2-in-1
necklace recently.
The heavy-duty jump rings - 2.0mm round silver wire, 3/8" I.D. -
were stretched into elongated rectangles using
my biggest set of round-nose pliers. With great and unfulfilling effort.
The problem with thick jump rings is that they don't stretch "fully"
and end up looking like a pregnant oval. That can be remedied
by squeezing the center section while keeping the (spreading) tension on the ring.
Third or fourth hand anyone?
Then a lot of fine-tuning to get it just right followed by sanding and polishing to remove
the stress lines from forging.
That's assuming the ring was centered, stretched evenly,
the weld withstood forging
(and is nearly invisible and symmetrical, naturally), etc.
Lots of extra work, in other words.
In comes the tool idea.
There were functional aspects that weren't known
until testing, designs and specs that changed along the way, and remade
parts galore. It had major alterations before its first use!
Maybe overkill but it's done forever (or at least a temporary forever).
Interchangeable tips make 1.5mm to 14mm rounded (internal) diameters
and 2mm to 13mm square profiles
with diamond and others coming.
An adjustable stop ensures a repeatable and consistent result.
Parallel jaws exert boatloads of force. Manual adjustments
will likely be necessary for bigger rings.
I enjoy creating and designing and want to be self-sufficient.
The market is virtually non-existent for such specialized equipment.
Judging by how long this took it'd be too expensive to buy anyway.
So we make our own, revisiting the drawing board like habit until completed.
Posted by M: September 28, 2024
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