Product Description
NEW! 'The Jump Ring Maker' by Clément Marquaire from CMMC Tools – exclusive to Metal Clay Ltd in the UK!
Discover an innovative way to create seamless jump rings in eight different sizes, ranging from 3mm to 10mm. Perfect for making your own metal clay chains!
Do you want to make your own jump rings in a simple and professional way? Look no further! This wonderful tool makes creating seamless jump rings a breeze. It works perfectly with both base metal clay and precious silver metal clay.
The maker features two strong magnets that allow you to secure it on a steel block while working. Check out this helpful video by Cool Tools, where Clément guides us through the process step by step and shares some great tips!
How to Use:
- Remove the brass tubes and place the 3mm tube in the small hole on the maker.
- Choose the size you’d like to make and insert your desired size tube through the wheel. The wheel is numbered, so match it to the same size.
- Roll a snake/coil of clay, making sure the thickness is consistent. You can use a snake roller or clay extruder for this.
- Place one end of your snake/coil on the tube, add a little water, and press it onto the tube.
- Start turning the wheel while holding the coil in place with your other hand.
- Once you’ve made enough rings, press the end of the snake onto the tube with a little water.
- Keep the coil on the tube and either dehydrate or air dry.
- Once dry, cut the rings free with a craft knife. Press the coil in a straight line and trim the ends to make them even. If the rings are stuck together, slide the knife between them to separate.
- To close the rings, add a little water to both ends, wiggle them together with your fingers, and hold for 30 seconds. You can also add a small amount of paste for extra security, though holding is usually sufficient.
- For larger rings, add water to the opposite side of the opening to increase flexibility. You can also lay them flat on a non-stick surface, place a snake roller on top with a little water, and place something heavy on top (bench block, etc.) for about 20 minutes. This will help flatten the rings and make joining easier.
Top Tips:
- Make more rings than you need and save extras for future projects.
- To speed up polishing, place the brass tube in a drill with your dry jump rings and turn it on slowly. Use a sanding pad while the drill is running for a quick polish.
- Experiment with different shaped extruder discs to create unique jump rings!
- Sometimes the rods need a push and a turn to get them into the correct hole, this is so that they sit snuggly and secure.
- Be careful of the ends of the brass rods as they can be a little sharp.
Watch Clément’s tutorial made with Cool Tools to learn more.
Images courtesy of Cool Tools.
