How to make Full Persian chain (a traditional chainmail weave) 

Glad it was helpful Jane. I ran a one-day chain making class last year and the participants loved the large link teaching aid, they were the perfect size to show the whole group different weaves … N

Thanks Ashley, good to hear you found the video useful … I was struggling to demonstrate weaves until I tried the large links … N

thanks John, I suppose it’s a matter of practice makes perfect. A bit like the thought of knitting a jumper being rather daunting if you’ve not done it before. After completing a few it becomes second nature and can be achieved whilst watching telly at the same time … N

Thanks for that Sousa, I struggled to film and demonstrate fine chain weaves until I came up with this … might look better with black pipe … maybe next time … cheers … Nick

I love the clear rings. I can see thru to the other rings. That helps! Black would be harder. Please stick with these! They are brilliant!!! ❤

thanks for the feedback C Marie, I hadn’t thought of it like that, so ok I’ll stick with what I’ve got … cheers … Nick

thanks Madcat nice to hear that, once a few basic techniques have been mastered … patience is a virtue when it comes to chain making … hope your creative space goes well … N

thanks for that Edilson, i’m glad it worked with small links … N

thanks for your lovely comment, glad you find my Vids useful. It seems to be turning into a bit of a chain making channel lately. I have tried doing voice overs, but soon gave up on it for a much easier life doing voiceless vids. Surprising what can be achieved when videoing with a modern iPhone. It’s a great technique to play and experiment with copper first then once an idea is perfected it’s easily copied over to silver … good luck and have fun with your adventures … N

it’s one of those patterns that progresses quite quickly once you get into the swing of it. Silver solder paste being quick, easy and convenient to use certainly helps … N

@Nickscreativestuff Yeah I figure it's one of those things thst once you have everything ready by your side you can just jump into it and get it done. Same worh viking knit. So longs you have your wire ready and good night as you need ti ensure you are knitting and weaving the correct wire.

when I was a kid, my mum was able to sit in front of a fire watch TV and knit a jumper all at the same time. it’s very satisfying to find something that’s creative and meditative all at the same time … anyway I’m off to bed … nice chatting with you … all the best Nick

@Nickscreativestuff Good night been great chatting with you today I feel like I have learned so much and enjoyed talking. As you can imagine I only leave ny home for hospital appointments so I never see a face other than partner and never get to talk to anyone so I talk too much to people like yourself I hope you haven't minded too much. But you are helping a complete novice whom actually want to learn a craft . I am bursting with ideas and designs jewellery wise and I just know people will like most of my designs anyhow good night nick thank-you for today it's meant a lot to me. Truly. Kirt

I know how you feel Kirt, i’m also rather isolated as I’m a full-time carer for my partner. having a creative hobby that can be achieved on the dining room table is one of the things that keeps me happy and sane. It’s nice to connect with people like you on here and have some social interactions with the outside world … N

thanks Consuelo, a simple but elegant weave … N

thanks Janna, happy to share stuff … N

hi mate, well I hope you haven’t had to have your legs crossed for too long. i’m now back to making after having to deal with lots of nasty hate comments generated by short videos going viral. easiest option ended up being to just turn comments off on those videos … hope you don’t have any leaks … N

@@Nickscreativestuff wow Nick, sad little people who can criticise but what do they actuall contribute. I say ignore these Muppets as you have plenty that appreciate you buddy.👍. Will be finished the bathroom in next couple of days. Had a leak under the floor so took it back to bare bones, unfortunately that was what was required to do it correctly. Looking forward to watching the Persian link video. I'm buying an orion pulse welder soon as I think it'll be a game changer.👍

yes I shouldn’t be so sensitive to such nonsense … good job you’re on top of DIY, its small problems that turn into big ones given enough time. A micro welder will definitely change the way you do things, I understood from somewhere a lot of people use them for tack welding components together before using traditional soldering in combination. I’m sure you’ll be looking forward to learning lots of new techniques to explore … exciting stuff … N

thanks for that Tammie, i’ve not tried Viking weave before looks very similar to loop in loop snake chain although probably a bit quicker. MacGyver is a new one to me, not had that here in the UK had to google it … it’s even earned a place in dictionaries. We’ve used being part of “The A-Team”since the 80s. i’m sure I could get one of these chains easily finished in a day if I stayed focused. I think it would be a difficult chain to sell having very little silver in it but a lot of time and effort. not like a heavy chunky chain that is quick to put together but has its value in the weight of silver. I suppose it’s one of the reasons I don’t really sell stuff … it’s not very rewarding. however making videos can be, my best chain making video has now earned just over £800 and I still have the chain to show for it … Nick

@@Nickscreativestuff I can tell you are in it for the joy of it and that's admirable! I too do it for the joy of it. But I have piles of stuff hanging out here. I'm going to have to start selling my jewelry and suncatchers. I'm not thrilled about all the things you have to do to sell. It can feel overwhelming. I use them for gifts for family and friends. I was a boat upholstery for 25yrs. I had a fall and compound fractured 5 vertebrae. So that was the end of that career. I started bead work when I was in grade school and on and off for years. My true love is to become a Silversmith. Your videos are helping my quest. I look forward to each and every new project you come up. Thank you for your time and knowledge!

sorry to hear of your accident … never know what’s round the next corner in life. having an absorbing hobby must help with rehab. i’m not much of a seller, I’m just have fun making stuff and have also built up quite a collection of creations that sometimes end up as gifts … hope it goes well … Nick

@@Nickscreativestuff your right you never know what's around the corner. But I'm getting to do something that has always been my true passion, making jewelry and suncatchers. So trying to make lemonade out of lemons!! Thank you for for your response! Have a great day!

would be nice to see your sun catchers ☀️ and silver sometime … you’ll have to upload some videos … N

thanks Marta, one of my favourites very simple with an classic look … how are your pet paintings performing … N

Nice to hear that Satu … cheers … Nick

thanks Julie, very satisfying when it first comes out of the barrel polisher … N

thanks for that Luis, I struggle to film an explanation until I tried these 100x bigger links … N

thanks for that K J, a sophisticated looking weave that is easy to achieve … N

thanks Andrew, yes paste solder is my preferred option when soldering lots of tiny links. If the joints are tight and neat minuscule amounts of paste are needed to close them. I tend to test certain size rings with copper to make sure I’m applying the correct amount of solder and there’s not too much excess. The sticky solder is easy to apply and no cleanup needed. After years have passed the solder joints don’t tarnish any more than the sterling silver itself staying invisible to the naked eye … N

@@Nickscreativestuff Thanks, Nick

thanks Jezia, more like Jack of all trades master of none … N

thanks for that Valerie, I couldn’t manage this these days without a magnifying headband as well as my prescription glasses. Only ever attempted on days I feel I have the patience of a saint. A lot of people don’t think silver solder paste is proper however it’s recognised as a hallmark quality product. it makes life very easy with this sort of chain something I wouldn’t attempt without it … cheers … Nick

thanks for that Micro Pyro, i’m using what’s called silver solder paste. It’s a clay like substance that is sticky and doesn’t need any flux only really good for small items that can be heated quickly, perfect for chain making and allows the process to be very easy and convenient … cheers … Nick

@@Nickscreativestuff Yes but is it easy, medium, or hard type (melting temp).

you can get all three, but I tend to use easy a lot … N

i’ve just checked out Cooksongold’s website and it seems you can get four varieties there is extra easy now available … N

thanks for that Raffinata … N

Hi swampdog, great hobby for a metal worker to get into. One of the things I found the hardest was using a jewellers saw, my teacher kept saying just be very gentle and the blades won’t break. Nice to have a stash of silver to play with. if melting say 20 - 30g in a 2 inch crucible an Oxy propane torch is most economical it gets up to temperature quickly and uses very little of the gases. if using pure propane on the same amount of silver you would need a Sievert style torch with a large nozzle say about 1inch diameter. i’ve not used mapp gas much before, but I’m sure it would work somewhere in between these two options. I feel privileged in owning a Smith’s Little Torch from Cooksongold one of the industry standards for a mixed gas torch however I only really use it now for when melting a crucible full of metal. my every day go to torch is a small handheld butane refillable but it’s nice having a large variety of torches to choose from. I use a large exchangeable oxygen bottle from hobby weld no hire charge just a refundable deposit. I used hard paste for this chain to give me the option of soldering end caps if I wanted. also if I had a problem with a link mid length of the chain it would be easier to repair with easy solder … all the best … Nick

@@Nickscreativestuff cheers Nick, I appreciate your reply, my crucible is a 2" one, perhaps im trying to melt too much at once, as I am using a 1" torch (it's actually my dad's old soldering set up we've always used for plumbing). I'll take your advice and run with it. Here's to giving my my old jewelry a new life....👍

you could try intensify the heat by surrounding the crucible with other pieces of reflective ceramics or another option I’ve used before is placing lumps of charcoal on top of the silver and crucible allow it to combust and glow contributing to reflective heat. it can be then flicked off before pouring … N

Hi Charles, i’ve never made a chain from fine silver I would worry about it being a bit soft and deforming overtime. I have previously made a cuff bracelet from fine silver but have noticed that it has scratched and marked a lot more than usual when wearing sterling silver … N

hi Sue, must be nice to be involved in a group like that. It’s called PVC tube and I got it from my local hardware store and paid about 50p a meter. I used barbecue skewers to join the tubing, but that would be depending on what diameter tubing you can’t get hold of. I originally use this technique in a previous video, here’s the link if you’re interested ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AWz2n3_wnME.html … good luck with it … Nick

@@Nickscreativestuff Thanks so much!

have fun with your group … N

hi Or Leami, i’m happy to chat with anyone and I do all my communicating on here … N

hi JSL, I suppose there are a fair few different ways to achieve this chain and it’s dependent on finding something you can comfortably get into a routine with. When working without cameras tripods and lights in the way, my preferred quirk is solder pick in the mouth pliers in one hand and tweezers in the other and a bowl of links to get through. When comfortably immersed in the monotony of chain making hours can slip by and my chains grow rapidly … N

I don’t make it, I buy it from Cooksongold.com … N

👍😎👍 … N

I do make simple clasps, but not these lobsters. I buy them from Cooksongold.com … N

thanks@@Nickscreativestuff

👍😎👍 … N