JUMP RINGS & CHAIN

Learn the proper techniques

of accomplished Rosary Makers

JUMP RINGS

Jump rings are tiny circles or ovals of metal used to attach Crucifixes and Centers to your rosary. They are very strong because of the way they are manufactured.If they are not opened and closed properly, they will lose their strength, and eventually your rosary will fall apart.

Jump rings come in bags of a dozen or more, and are sometimes hooked together. They must be seperated, and then opened up for use on your rosary. Hold the jump ring beween your two pliers and grasp firmly. Gently move one side up, and one side down, to open the ring just enough to slip over your center or crucifix circular end. 

Do NOT open the jump ring by prying the circle open, as shown at left. This will weaken it, and you will never be able to close it securely again.

 DO gently open the ring as shown at left

After you have attached the jump ring to your Crucifix or Center, gently move the two ends back toward each other, pushing down and in on the left, up and in on the right, until you feel the end SLIGHTLY touch each other. Keep pushing until the circle of the ring is completely closed, with only a barely visible space between the ends. They should be as flush as possible.

CUTTING CHAIN

 Chain rosaries, of course, are made with bits of chain as various spaces between the beads. Using the chain/wire cutter feature on your rosary pliers, hang some chain over the edge, counting the number of links you desire for your rosary. If you want your seperator chain to be 3 links long, count 4 links up the chain; cut the 4th link. Discard the cut pieces. If you want your seperator chain to be 4 links long, count 5 links up the chain; cut the 5th link, and so forth. Three or four links keeps the rosary strong; any longer lengths of chain between beads may weaken the rosary.  

 Counting the links and holding the chain steady before cutting is a little tricky. But practice makes perfect. You'll find the cutter edge is very sharp, and with a firm squeeze, will snip right through the chain...or your finger!

So be careful.

TIME SAVERS

  Cut all 14 lengths  of 3 or 4 links of chain that you'll be needing for your rosary at one time. Cut even more if you'll be making more than one rosary

1 foot of chain = 34  3-link cuts

    "Build" all your centers before you begin work on your decade beads. Add a jump ring and length of chain to each connector on your center piece.

 "Build" all of your Our Father bead sets before beginning on your decade beads.