<p>I made a butted link hauberk some years ago out of galvanized steel wire (the stuff I got was used in repairing fences - 20 gauge).  Not as shiny as other materials but I felt it was more authentic looking.  It is fairly easy to form and cut.  The mandrel I used to form the links was 3/8" diameter.</p>

<p>When completed there were some 40,000 links in it and it weighs around 40 pounds.  I wore it over a gambeson I also made.  The hauberk comes to about the groin (worn with a belt to adjust the weight somewhat) and to a few inches above  the elbow (I'm 5'10").  </p>

<p>I wore it numerous times to SCA type events and reenactments but never did much mock combat with it.  I never had an issue with links stretching or popping out.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/c5fGY.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/c5fGY.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T13:45:55.923Z
2017-04-04T11:38:22.003Z
2017-04-04T11:38:22.003Z
Matt Balent
<p>I will reiterate @catija's referral to the Ring Lord website.  I have actually purchased chain mail supplies from them (for jewelry, not actual armor) and they have a great variety of materials, and quite a bit of information about working with those materials as well.  </p>

<p>If you poke around their site, you will find lots of finished projects, and free resources.  And, because they sell the loops, most everything will be labelled with the size of the loop and the wire dimensions.  It should give you a good idea of the good materials that offer a good balance between wearability (i.e. weight and fluidity) and still offer some protection.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-28T00:23:02.710Z
2017-03-28T00:23:02.710Z
magerber
<p>I've been making butted maille out if 1.6mm stainless steel wire. Cutting the rings myself. This stuff is strong and heavy! It looks and feels great! The wire is a little pricey at 11quid per 30ms. I was still curious to hear what other materials people were using. What other gauges of wire ect. I've heard that weaker steel can stretch at the crown or on the shoulders and I'd like to avoid that. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T05:36:15.843Z
Welcome! I've changed your title to reflect your question... what is the purpose of your chain mail? Knowing that sort of thing can really help us narrow answers as there are tons of options for chain mail. Is it decorative or does it need to be functional? Most of the stuff that I've thought about working with is lightweight aluminum - it's colorful and doesn't weigh a ton.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T05:40:36.230Z
Wearable use. Larp I guess. I'm not into it myself I just have an Interest in History and like building stuff. I'm not using aluminum for that reason. I thought about getting some of it though in the future to make some jewlry.
Darth Dudley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T05:42:35.303Z
I haven't had a chance to look through it but you might find this chart useful : http://theringlord.com/cart/shopcontent.asp?type=materialsdata
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T05:46:20.530Z
Thanks for the reply Catija! I'm trying to upload a picture of the coif I've made, but my phone wont let me :/
Darth Dudley
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-22T12:20:05.093Z
I haven't made maille beyond a bracelet kit, but there's [a subreddit for maille](https://www.reddit.com/r/maille/) which might be a useful resource.
user812786
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-13T09:24:40.050Z
I'd also recommend the [Regia Anglorum MAA (Master At Arms) Guide](https://regia.org/members/docs/2015%20MaA%20Regulations.pdf) as a resource - they specify 1-18ga steel or iron wire rings with 6-10mm ID for reenactment.
walrus
<clothing><metalworking><chain-mail>
What wire other than 1.6 mm stainless will work for chain mail?
Darth Dudley
# What wire other than 1.6 mm stainless will work for chain mail?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-22)

I've been making butted maille out if 1.6mm stainless steel wire. Cutting the rings myself. This stuff is strong and heavy! It looks and feels great! The wire is a little pricey at 11quid per 30ms. I was still curious to hear what other materials people were using. What other gauges of wire ect. I've heard that weaker steel can stretch at the crown or on the shoulders and I'd like to avoid that.

**Tags:** clothing, metalworking, chain-mail

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Welcome! I've changed your title to reflect your question... what is the purpose of your chain mail? Knowing that sort of thing can really help us narrow answers as there are tons of options for chain mail. Is it decorative or does it need to be functional? Most of the stuff that I've thought about working with is lightweight aluminum - it's colorful and doesn't weigh a ton.  
> **username_0**: Wearable use. Larp I guess. I'm not into it myself I just have an Interest in History and like building stuff. I'm not using aluminum for that reason. I thought about getting some of it though in the future to make some jewlry.  
> **username_1**: I haven't had a chance to look through it but you might find this chart useful : http://theringlord.com/cart/shopcontent.asp?type=materialsdata  
> **username_0**: Thanks for the reply username_1! I'm trying to upload a picture of the coif I've made, but my phone wont let me :/  
> **username_2**: I haven't made maille beyond a bracelet kit, but there's [a subreddit for maille](https://www.reddit.com/r/maille/) which might be a useful resource.  
> **username_3**: I'd also recommend the [Regia Anglorum MAA (Master At Arms) Guide](https://regia.org/members/docs/2015%20MaA%20Regulations.pdf) as a resource - they specify 1-18ga steel or iron wire rings with 6-10mm ID for reenactment.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-03-22. Score: 5

I made a butted link hauberk some years ago out of galvanized steel wire (the stuff I got was used in repairing fences - 20 gauge). Not as shiny as other materials but I felt it was more authentic looking. It is fairly easy to form and cut. The mandrel I used to form the links was 3/8" diameter.

When completed there were some 40,000 links in it and it weighs around 40 pounds. I wore it over a gambeson I also made. The hauberk comes to about the groin (worn with a belt to adjust the weight somewhat) and to a few inches above the elbow (I'm 5'10").

I wore it numerous times to SCA type events and reenactments but never did much mock combat with it. I never had an issue with links stretching or popping out.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/c5fGY.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/c5fGY.jpg)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2017-03-28. Score: 2

I will reiterate @username_1's referral to the Ring Lord website. I have actually purchased chain mail supplies from them (for jewelry, not actual armor) and they have a great variety of materials, and quite a bit of information about working with those materials as well.

If you poke around their site, you will find lots of finished projects, and free resources. And, because they sell the loops, most everything will be labelled with the size of the loop and the wire dimensions. It should give you a good idea of the good materials that offer a good balance between wearability (i.e. weight and fluidity) and still offer some protection.


---

