Hi all.
I need a source for or a jig to make some clock chain. The chain needs to
be made of .06" (1.5mm) wire and comprised of 30 links per foot.

I have a source for 1.8mm wire, 33 links per foot chain. I'm not sure this
will work flawlessly.

I'm trying to avoid making the chain one link at a time. I have some
preliminary drawing of a jig to produce several links at a time.
Basically it's round edged flat stock supported on each end so I can mount
it in the lathe to wind the wire on slowly by hand.

The wire I have is soft and will require some hardening to be strong
enough.

Ideas are welcome.
Cheers! Ian

Here's the clock that the chain will go into.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...k/movement.jpg

Here's a jig for making small ladder chain I found along the way. Thanks
Ron!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3..._jig_image.jpg

"Ian Timshel" wrote in message
news
Hi all.
I need a source for or a jig to make some clock chain. The chain needs to
be made of .06" (1.5mm) wire and comprised of 30 links per foot.

I have a source for 1.8mm wire, 33 links per foot chain. I'm not sure this
will work flawlessly.

I'm trying to avoid making the chain one link at a time. I have some
preliminary drawing of a jig to produce several links at a time.
Basically it's round edged flat stock supported on each end so I can mount
it in the lathe to wind the wire on slowly by hand.


The standard jeweler's method is to wind a coil and saw the top wire(s); the
loops drop off and either collect on the saw blade or disappear under the
work bench.

Then you silver solder a bunch of single links on a charcoal block; make
units of three with the centre one to be soldered, then units of seven,
fifteen, etcetera...

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 14:52:40 -0400, jtaylor wrote:


"Ian Timshel" wrote in message
news
Hi all.
I need a source for or a jig to make some clock chain. The chain needs to
be made of .06" (1.5mm) wire and comprised of 30 links per foot.

I have a source for 1.8mm wire, 33 links per foot chain. I'm not sure this
will work flawlessly.

I'm trying to avoid making the chain one link at a time. I have some
preliminary drawing of a jig to produce several links at a time.
Basically it's round edged flat stock supported on each end so I can mount
it in the lathe to wind the wire on slowly by hand.


The standard jeweler's method is to wind a coil and saw the top wire(s); the
loops drop off and either collect on the saw blade or disappear under the
work bench.

Then you silver solder a bunch of single links on a charcoal block; make
units of three with the centre one to be soldered, then units of seven,
fifteen, etcetera...

=================

That is the standard for making jump rings and would be ever so attractive
if I could use round links. The links aren't round though. I'm looking
to make the links in their final form.
Thanks for taking a swing at it.
Cheers! Ian

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:31:17 -0600, Ian Timshel
wrote:
================

That is the standard for making jump rings and would be ever so attractive
if I could use round links. The links aren't round though. I'm looking
to make the links in their final form.
Thanks for taking a swing at it.
Cheers! Ian
Then why not wind the coil on a bobbin of the correct shape?

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 20:47:25 -0500, Brian Lawson wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:31:17 -0600, Ian Timshel
wrote:
================

That is the standard for making jump rings and would be ever so attractive
if I could use round links. The links aren't round though. I'm looking
to make the links in their final form.
Thanks for taking a swing at it.
Cheers! Ian
Then why not wind the coil on a bobbin of the correct shape?

=================

That's kind of where I'm at. Flat stock shaped to suit. The material
I'm working with is plenty soft enough to handle that method. The only
drawback I can see is that it would not be adjustable and it would be good
to have it adjustable through a narrow range.

Even 0-80 set screws would look big on suitable material. hmmm If the
bobbin was split to allow it to be spread or retracted the jig could be
dialed in very closely to reproduce exactly what was required.

Or maybe two rods of suitable diameter, but a method of adjusting the
spacing between such small materials is not coming to me willingly. heh

Steady pins wouldn't be troublesome to include, but I'd love to find a
means of adjusting the spacing at either end so one could mic the bobbin
to ensure it was parallel then be off to the races.

Thinking out loud is necessary some days. An adjustable block at each end
that retained the steady pinned rods would work.

Thanks for the sounding board crew. I think I've enough to go on to do
some sketching.
Cheers! Ian

"Ian Timshel" wrote in message
news
On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 20:47:25 -0500, Brian Lawson wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:31:17 -0600, Ian Timshel
wrote:
================

That is the standard for making jump rings and would be ever so
attractive
if I could use round links. The links aren't round though. I'm looking
to make the links in their final form.
Thanks for taking a swing at it.
Cheers! Ian
Then why not wind the coil on a bobbin of the correct shape?

=================

That's kind of where I'm at. Flat stock shaped to suit. The material
I'm working with is plenty soft enough to handle that method. The only
drawback I can see is that it would not be adjustable and it would be good
to have it adjustable through a narrow range.

Even 0-80 set screws would look big on suitable material. hmmm If the
bobbin was split to allow it to be spread or retracted the jig could be
dialed in very closely to reproduce exactly what was required.

Or maybe two rods of suitable diameter, but a method of adjusting the
spacing between such small materials is not coming to me willingly. heh

Steady pins wouldn't be troublesome to include, but I'd love to find a
means of adjusting the spacing at either end so one could mic the bobbin
to ensure it was parallel then be off to the races.

Thinking out loud is necessary some days. An adjustable block at each end
that retained the steady pinned rods would work.


Make 'em round, squish the coil to the right form, cut,
solder,solder,solder...

Easy to make a round form a tiny bit bigger/smaller until you get one that
squshes just right.

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 09:58:46 -0400, jtaylor wrote:



Make 'em round, squish the coil to the right form, cut,
solder,solder,solder...

Easy to make a round form a tiny bit bigger/smaller until you get one that
squshes just right.

==============

Possibly. Thanks for taking a crack at this.
Cheer! Ian