Cheap Jump Ring Maker

As a jewelry designer, creativity doesn't stop in just designing jewelry. I also try to be creative in finding tools.

I am in need to make jump rings... a lot of them. I found in a jewelry magazine that one of the jewelry supplier store carries a jump ring maker. It looks great, very user friendly but the drawback for me,...it costs a lot...

I decided to look for alternatives. I was searching for pvc pipes, pencils, aluminum tube, anything round to wrap the wire... I stumbled on a wooden dowel. I found mine at a craft store. It comes in many different sizes. Armed with coupon, I got a wooden dowel no more than 99 cents a piece.

I also need a hand saw and a bench vise.

Here are the steps:

1. Choose the dowel according to the diameter jum pring you need. Use a dead soft wire.
2. Cut the dowel about half of your hand saw length. On one end, cut a slit, large enough for the wire diameter.


3. Put the wire in the slit and start wrapping the wire around the dowel. I put a masking tape just to make sure the wire stay put while I'm wrapping around the dowel.
4. Put the dowel in the bench vise and feed the rings towards the end of the dowel.
5. Saw the rings with hand saw. You may cut through the dowel... that's fine.

I do not use cutting pliers to cut jump rings because I intend to close solder the rings. I tried using flush cutter. I wasn't too happy with the result.

I think it IS the cheapest jump ring maker. What do you think?


PS: This is for prospective customer information only and not intended to replace class instructions. Please consult with your teacher before doing any of these steps.