DIY Jewelry Making - How I Cut Jump Rings With A Dremel and Coil Cutter

Make Your Own Jump Rings and Save Money!

If you've ever made chain maille or your own jewelry components, you already know:

Jump rings add up fast!

Buying pre-cut jump rings can get expensive, especially if you're working with sterling silver or gold. That's one of the reasons we cut our own — it saves money and gives us more control over size and quality. All of our pendants (see below) have 2–3 jump rings connecting the bail to the chain for added security.

Over the years, this is the method we've used consistently.

Why Cut Your Own Jump Rings?

Cutting your own jump rings isn't for everyone — but it has a few big advantages:

• Lower material cost
• More control over wire gauge and size
• Ability to make exactly what you need
• Great for chain maille, handmade chains, attaching pendants to bails

It does take a little setup, but once you get going, it becomes part of the process.

How We Make Our Jump Rings

Step 1: Coil the Wire

I start by coiling my own wire using:

• An electric drill
• Mandrel (I use a set of transfer punches)

This creates a tight, even coil that's ready to be cut. Go SLOW & STEADY!

👉 Tip: Take your time here — a clean coil makes a big difference when cutting. Practice coiling on cheap wire before using silver.

Step 2: Cut the Coil (Dremel + Coil Cutter)

To cut the jump rings, I use a coil cutting system that's permanently attached to a Dremel. I've had mine for years, and it still works great, although I do buy new cutting blades when they get dull.

This setup allows you to:

• Cut clean, consistently sized rings
• Work fairly quickly once you get the hang of it
• Reduce waste compared to snipping or hand sawing rings individually

👉 If you already use a Flex Shaft, you can dedicate a Dremel just to cutting jump rings, which is what I do.

Step 3: Use Lubrication

This step makes a big difference.

Always use plenty of lubricant on your coil before cutting:

• Helps the blade cut smoothly
• Extends the life of your blade
• Reduces friction and heat

Step 4: Practice on Cheap Wire First

Before you cut into sterling silver or gold:

Practice on copper or inexpensive wire first. This helps you:

• Get comfortable with the setup
• Avoid costly mistakes
• Learn how much pressure and speed to use when cutting
• Learn how to control your drill or coiling tool

Step 5: Tumble

We always run our newly cut jump rings through our tumbler with stainless steel shot and a squeeze of dish soap. This helps to smooth the rings and remove any sharp edges and bits leftover from cutting.

SAFETY Tips (Don't Skip This)

Cutting jump rings with a coil cutting tool can send tiny pieces of metal flying.

Make sure to:

• Wear protective eyewear
• Keep your hands clear of the blade
• Work in a well-lit and well-ventilated area
• Keep others out of your work area while cutting

It only takes one flying ring to realize why this matters.

Is It Worth It?

For us, the answer is yes — especially for chain maille jewelry and our handmade chains.

Cutting your own jump rings:

• Saves money over time
• Improves consistency
• Gives you more flexibility in your designs

It's not the fastest method when you're starting out, but it becomes much easier with practice.

Final Thoughts

Like most things in jewelry making, there's more than one way to do this.

This is just the method that's worked well for us over the years.

If you're thinking about cutting your own jump rings, start simple, practice on inexpensive materials, and build from there. And, if you're curious what chain maille looks like when it's finished, browse our Handmade Chain Necklaces — all of them start with jump rings cut right here in our studio.

Good luck & happy making! — Barb