Came out OK
Next set will be better
This kind of stuff, making the tools, isn't so hard, I have 30 years of making big surf fishing plugs under my belt and the machining techniques are very interchangeable.
Working on a bag and lanyard now and I'm realizing I have a
long way to go with leatherwork, to put it bluntly, I'm lousy at it so far!!
I use the same techniques for making the loops that I do for making the nose and tail loops for plugs
Here are the steps for making the loops/chain sections:
Photo 1. The must have tool and the finished link on the primer tool. You can get by with pretty much whatever tools you have around, but you have to have a good pair of loop pliers. They have OK ones at most hobby shops. You will also need a bench vise with a nail clamped in it that closely fits the size of the loop, and a pair of Vise Grips.
Photo 2. These are all the tools I use for the initial bending and for final adjustments. The lineman's pliers and the Sheetmetal benders on the right are used to square things up. You can do the squaring up part fine with two pairs of regular household pliers if that's all you have
Photo 3. The initial loop. Leave some wire to wrap over
Photo 4. Second loop bent in and ready for wrapping
Photo 5. On the vise, ready to wrap. I find it best to wrap over top towards me, but do whatever works for you. Use a pin in the vise that's closest to the size of the loop, The snugger that is the better the wrap.
Photos 6 & 7. Wrapped, ready to cut off with a good pair of close cutting wire cutters. File off any sharp edges left.
That's it, easy peasy. You can make them as big or small as you like. If you look closely at the photo of the flintlock tools you'll see that the loop on the brush is rectangular and the one on the powder measure has two sizes. Just remember to always wrap from the small side.
