So, I made this pretty nifty bracelet that's stretchy because of the nitrile o-rings (thank you, Home Depot). This was my first experience making chain mail, and after putting the bracelet on....I don't like it at all.
The bracelet lays down flat if you don't DO anything, but the second I move or otherwise do anything, the rings flip up and generally don't lie down flat, and it brings out my OCD tendencies and drives me crazy.
Is this normal? Or am I Doing It Wrong? Is this just the tendency of 4-in-1? I've never actually seen one of these in person, I just sort of fudged it based on a basic 4-in-1- pattern and some eyeballing.
If this is just the nature of 4-in-1 when worn as a bracelet, fine. If there's a better (but still relatively simple, I'm a beginner!) weave that'll just lay down on my wrist and BEHAVE, please let me know.
The bracelet lays down flat if you don't DO anything, but the second I move or otherwise do anything, the rings flip up and generally don't lie down flat, and it brings out my OCD tendencies and drives me crazy.
Is this normal? Or am I Doing It Wrong? Is this just the tendency of 4-in-1? I've never actually seen one of these in person, I just sort of fudged it based on a basic 4-in-1- pattern and some eyeballing.
If this is just the nature of 4-in-1 when worn as a bracelet, fine. If there's a better (but still relatively simple, I'm a beginner!) weave that'll just lay down on my wrist and BEHAVE, please let me know.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: 4-in-1 bracelet with stretchy nitrile rubber rings...doing it wrong?
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 10:08 AMAnyone? Bueller?
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Re: 4-in-1 bracelet with stretchy nitrile rubber rings...doing it wrong?
Mon, May 19, 2008 - 5:55 PM4-in-1 usually lies pretty flat. Post a pic if you can and I'll at least try to figure out what the issue could be.
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Re: 4-in-1 bracelet with stretchy nitrile rubber rings...doing it wrong?
Fri, May 23, 2008 - 8:19 AMI have made these with neoprene rings and 4-in-1 and as long as I don't have the weave too tight, it lies flat most of the time. However, I have noticed that the rubber rings, with their stretchy nature tend to get bunched up now and then, causing the bracelet to curl. Generally just pulling it back into order fixes it.
I also did a Kings Maille weave (I think it was called that) and it definitely stayed flatter.
Alle
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Re: 4-in-1 bracelet with stretchy nitrile rubber rings...doing it wrong?
Sat, May 24, 2008 - 8:58 AMI have a feeling its a matter of linking flexible to flexible that is the problem. Flexible will not hold structure like rigid will. So, the weight and stability of the piece will rely on the core linkage, which will pull the outer, less structural links in. And since all the links are flexible, there is very little stability at all. Does that make sense?
I would suggest using a rigid core (like stainless steel links or whatever wire you prefer) in the 4-in-1 as the structure of the bracelet and use the rubber links as decoration. Or maybe experiment with layering or striping? I think in order to get the rigidness of steel, but the stretchiness of rubber, the O-rings would have to be pretty small or thick. How did you attach them together? Do they have openings?
I love rubber too, but haven't worked with it in chainmail yet. Although I've seen other chainmail artists use the O-rings as links. They're just more of a decorative aspect, rather than structural. -
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Re: 4-in-1 bracelet with stretchy nitrile rubber rings...doing it wrong?
Fri, June 27, 2008 - 5:40 PMI actually make a ton of stainless + rubber 4-in-1 bracelets and don't see any problems of this sort. I typically do this by having every third row (of the outer links) be rubber which provides suitable stretch to get them over the hand without much difficulty.
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