Gear and buying guides
What to buy for chainmail, and what to look for before you do.
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Everyday chainmail
3 guides- Chainmail glove sizing, and what the glove does and does not protect
How to measure your hand for a stainless steel mesh glove, a size chart in inches, millimetres and EN 420 sizes, and what these gloves protect against and where they fall short.
Chainmail scrubbers for cast iron: how to use one and what to buyHow a stainless chainmail scrubber cleans cast iron without stripping seasoning, how to use and dry it, how to choose one by material and ring size, and common mistakes.
Chainmail starter kits: what to look for before you buyWhat a good beginner chainmail kit contains, how to judge ring size, gauge and metal, what to avoid, and how to decide between a kit and buying rings and tools separately.
Tools and metals
1 guides- Chainmail tools: what to buy, what to skip
The tools you need to make chainmail, from two pairs of flat nose pliers to flush cutters, mandrels and calipers, with what to look for in each and what is not worth buying.
Projects
3 guides- Aluminum or polycarbonate scales: which to build with
A practical comparison of aluminum and polycarbonate scales for scale mail, covering weight, finish, sound, durability and cost, with a checklist for testing before you commit.
A first chainmail project: a European 4-in-1 braceletA step-by-step plan for a beginner chainmail bracelet in European 4-in-1, with ring sizes, how many rings to buy, assembly order and how to attach a clasp.
Scale mail dice bag: three ways to build oneHow scale mail dice bags are built, the three common constructions, how many scales and rings a 4 by 5 inch bag takes, and how to choose a scale size and finish.