Soldered paper clip bracelet

Step 5 Close the links & Assembly

Connecting the Links
If this is your first links then you don't have to worry about connecting it to the old ones (since there are no old ones)

(I started with a big link but you can start with a small one too.) Making the chain is pretty basic, just put that last old link through the gap in the new link.

Bending the links closed

Bend the links closed, so the ends are touching

Soldering the links closed
I have always hated when links on bracelets or necklaces come undone so i decided to solder my links to keep them from coming undone.

I have found there are two ways of soldering the links closed:

1.(The proper way) Heat up the links with the tip of the soldering iron, and apply the solder to the links and not to the soldering iron. It should flow around the ends of the links.

2.(The improper way, but it still works and might be a little faster) Put the tip of the soldering iron as close as you can to the ends of the links and apply the solder to the very tip of the soldering iron and let it flow from the soldering iron to around the ends of the links.

Sometimes when you pull the soldering iron away, you get a little bit of solder that want to stay on the iron and form a point on the connection we just soldered. What i did to fix this problem is before the solder completely hardened, i pushed the point (that was formed) in with the solder wire that didn't melt. (if you time it right, the left over solder won't melt but just push on the solder that did melt)

If there is any sharp bits on the connection, you can use the file to smooth away the tips (note solder files pretty well ,but paper clips don't)

For the bracelet I made, I had 5 small links in between any of the big links. I ended up needing only about 4 to 5 big links, and about 20 small links.