Ring Cut Details

Both machine cut and saw cut rings make high quality chainmail. However, machine cut is better for some applications and saw cut is better for others.
The left ring shown here is machine cut.
The right ring is saw cut.

Please note: all of these pictures are several times larger than life and many flaws that are not apparent to the naked eye show up under this amount of zoom.

The rings in this picture are 14g 1/2"ID

Pinch cut is what rings are called if you cut them yourself with a pair of sidecutters.

Machine Cut Ring Details

Machine cut rings can be used for all but fine jewelry. We make and stock thousands of pounds of machine cut rings. A machine cut ring is made by an industrial machine - the cut is technically a shear cut.

• The left ring in this image is how the rings look after they are made. This is how it will arrive to you.
• The right ring is how the ring looks closed - this is the worst angle and was taken to show the small divot on the outside of the ring at the cut. The inside part of the ring does not have a divot and closes flush.
• They are stocked in large quantities and can ship immediately. It is virtually impossible for a person to handcut a hauberks worth of rings in a day. We ship hundreds of pounds every day.
• The cut is comparable to shear cut. The cut is significantly better than pinch cut and will not catch hair as easily. This is important for clothing items.
• They have inner diameters closer to the listed ID than hand cut rings. This is because the machine can counteract the spring back on harder materials.
• They cost less than saw cut rings. This can allow you to experiment more.
• They are easier to close than saw cut or pinch cut.

Saw Cut Ring Details

Saw cut rings are best for applications where you want to be very particular about the finished appearance of each ring. For example fine jewelry.

We make and stock hundreds of pounds of saw cut rings. A saw cut ring is made by an industrial machine that cuts a coil with a rotary saw blade.

• The left ring this this image is how the rings look after they are made. Every saw cut ring we make is deburred, polished and cleaned. This is how it will arrive to you.
• Note: see the gap between the ends of the wire. This is the width of the saw blade and is called the kerf. This gap makes closing saw cut rings more difficult than closing machine cut rings.
• The right ring is how the ring looks closed - when done well and with attention to detail a saw cut ring can appear almost seamless. When done poorly and without attention to closing the kerf a saw cut ring will look sloppy and will allow other rings to work loose from your completed piece.