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Genuine chainmaille from pop tabsby quixotiCfluX on August 27, 2009

Table of Contents

License: Attribution (by)  ........................................................................................................

Intro: Genuine chainmaille from pop tabs  ...........................................................................................

step 1: Assemble your supplies  ..................................................................................................

step 2: Prepare the tabs  ........................................................................................................

step 3: Cut  ..................................................................................................................

step 4: Bend  ................................................................................................................

step 5: Repeat  ...............................................................................................................

step 6: Weave  ...............................................................................................................

step 7: Continue weaving  .......................................................................................................

step 8: Final thoughts  ..........................................................................................................

Related Instructables  ........................................................................................................... 1

Advertisements  ............................................................................................................... 1

Comments  ................................................................................................................... 1

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License:   Attribution (by)

Intro:  Genuine chainmaille from pop tabsConstructing a genuine European 4 in 1 chainmaille weave using only pop tabs.

Turns out this is very easy and makes a really great looking piece of maille, and as an added bonus you don't have to worry about having a quarter mile of wire on hato attach them together.

Image Notes1. Pretty sweet looking

step 1: Assemble your suppliesOK, you are going to need lots and lots of pop tabs. Don't give yourself renal failure trying to drink them all yourself. Spread it out or enlist the help of your family, frienworkmates, or maybe even the local recycling center. Here is what you will need:

CuttersStaple removerOld keyNon-mangled pop tabs (however many you need, 1000 is a good start)

Image Notes1. Staple remover2. Cutters: You don't need the really awesome Xuron micro-shear, a regular pair of diagonal cutters, or even a pair of scissors or nail clippers will work.3. Do the Dew4. BAD: This one is torn, and really will not be of much use.5. OK: This still has the rivet collar, so it will have to be bent over and straightened.6. BEST: These are the best kind to get, break them off the can and they are ready to go with no work.7. Key: Used to bend and flatten the rivet collar.

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step 2: Prepare the tabsYou will need to prepare the tabs for the weaving. Bend the collar down from the "top" side of the tab using the tumbler side of the key. Then use the back of the key tcontinue bending it down against the side of the tab. Lay the tab face down and push the cupped part down flat.

Image Notes1. Bend the tab down from the "top" of the tab

Image Notes1. Bend it down against the other side.

Image Notes1. You want it to be as close to straight across as possible.

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Image Notes1. Flatten out the cupped part.

Image Notes1. Nice and flat.

Image Notes1. The Three Amigos!2. Ned Needlender3. Lucky Day

4. Dusty Bottoms

step 3: CutNow that all your tabs are flat and consistent, you need to cut and crimp them.

Cut them in the very middle of the pull part of the tab.

step 4: BendThe tabs will need to be bent slightly so they will lay together properly. This is where the staple remover comes it. Turns out it gives it just the right amount of bend. Puthe tab in cut side fi rst and close the tool down so that one side holds the cuts and the "bridge" is over the metal edge on the other side. Press with your finger and, bayou're done.

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Image Notes1. Usually works best if the narrower jaws are on top.2. OM NOM NOM NOM

Image Notes1. Try to position the tab on the metal so the bend will be on the bridge.

Image Notes1. Easy.

Image Notes1. Back2. Front3. Top4. Bottom (underneath)

step 5: RepeatKeep making the links, do them all at once, do them in batches. Either way, its pretty easy to make them.

One note: If you are using cutters, you can bend the tabs first, if you are using scissors you have to cut them first.

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Image Notes1. See how consistent the staple remover gets them.

Image Notes1. Try to be equally consistent with your cuts.

step 6: WeaveNow that you have a massive pile of tabs ready, you will begin the weaving. The first picture shows 4 links woven together in the traditional European 4 in 1 style. Thenext photos show the proper way to connect them together.

Holding one tab by the back, with one hand, take another tab with your f ree hand.Push the back of the second tab through the cut on the first tab from the bottom so that it is on one side.After they are connected together do the same with a second tab, but on the opposite side.The fourth tab you put on wil l connect the two "shoulder" tabs together.Connect the fourth tab so that the second and third are laying one on each side.The back of the tabs should always end up on the bottom side of the weave.

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Image Notes1. See how the second tab is pushed in on the opposite side. This isimportant.

Image Notes1. If your tabs are not connected like "shoulders" then you have done it wrong.Take them apart and try again.

Image Notes1. One tab on each side.

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step 7: Continue weavingKeep doing this until you have reached the desired size. I won't go into detail in this Instructable regarding how to make a specific garment or item. But I will give yousome tips on weaving. Because of the pattern, you have a couple different "fabric" geometries you can work with.

The first is the diamond geometry, each link is connected to 3 othersThe second is the square, each link (except those on the edges) uses pattern's full 4 to 1 connection

As your swatch gets larger it might be easier to flip it over to continue weaving, because you will need to handle the main body less as you attach new links.

Image Notes1. Link2. 13. 24. 3

Image Notes1. link2. 13. 44. 25. 3

Image Notes

1. Back of the weave.2. Connect3. Connect

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Image Notes1. All connected, just like the others.

step 8: Final thoughtsI hope you enjoyed this instructable, it is the first I've written. I still have alot more tabs to go before I will be able to finish anything. I will probably make a pixane, andcreate a new Instructable for it. I will leave you with some pictures of this cool looking chainmaille.

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Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 602 commen

Sparky664 says: Nov 21, 2009. 6:30 AM REP

Chainmaille guitar strap?

Forevirknight says: Jan 11, 2010. 11:17 PM REP

Good idea, sparky. it might be a little hard on your shoulders tho. Then again it depends on the weight of your guitar. I play blues, but not much.

adris8 says: Jan 6, 2010. 8:10 AM REP

that'll be cool, but gotta be quite wide to take off the stress because of the tabs being pretty hard.

Pbyrd says: Dec 29, 2009. 10:15 AM REP

That is an awesome idea, I'm going to try that.

unreal_ed says: Dec 27, 2009. 2:30 PM REP

You could make the strap and put it on top of your normal strap, attach it with wires going through the tabs' loops.

It would also probably hurt i f u didn't have anything between you and the chainmail anyway.

phillybusta says: Nov 22, 2009. 3:43 PM REP

that would be an effective way to drop your guitar a lot lol.

Maxaxle says: Nov 22, 2009. 11:36 AM REP

Just make sure it's sturdy first. Maybe it could be made of beer tabs and it could be used to tally how long you've been on tour (same amount of beertabs/day).

Speedmite says: Dec 11, 2009. 11:57 PM REP

I can certainly make normal chainmail rings faster and easier. And it looks a little trickier.

WhiteTigerTails says: Jan 4, 2010. 5:36 AM REP

But for Cheaper?

Speedmite says: Jan 6, 2010. 9:23 PM REP

I use note book spirals from old notebooks being thrown away, 3 and 5 subject. I had about 30 or so from one year. You get a bunch of r ings perspiral. And its free. You also dont have to spend forever collecting one by one tabs. And then modifying them to work. YOu just make it, make sure the paper is off. THats fun.. ... And you dont have to drink 5000 or so cans of pop.

quixotiCfluX says: Jan 11, 2010. 8:36 AM REP

I find those rings too flimsy to work with. Are you recoiling them before cutting to make smaller rings that hold up better?

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Datawolf says: Jan 11, 2010. 6:20 AM REP

Awesome work.I don't drink beer enough ;-)

Radke22 says: Jan 10, 2010. 7:37 PM REP

awesome idea! seems like it would take too longto try though haha.

http://www.instructables.com /id/How-to-make-an-ice-fishing-rod/ 

Clan Armstrong says: Jan 10, 2010. 3:50 PM REP

This is awesome I'm building a suit of armor completely out of cans, and now I have a way to make the chain mail too. Sweet! 5/5

P.S. Oh, yeah it works great I've got aboot a square foot in three hours, and then a years worth of cans with tabs on them.

The Tower That Ate says: Dec 30, 2009. 1:20 PM REP

Made a dress. :3

KentonLee25 says: Jan 9, 2010. 7:04 PM REP

jeepers, how'd you get so many..?

stina_wo says: Jan 9, 2010. 12:14 PM REP

Nice, now if I only had some pink yarn to go with that, you'd have a matching tab purse!

quixotiCfluX says: Jan 6, 2010. 6:24 AM REP

Awesome work.

angelrvr says: Dec 31, 2009. 4:39 PM REP

so cute!

 _Ko0LaiD_  says: Dec 30, 2009. 6:23 PM REP

I gotta say, you must have a lot of time on your hands.

The Tower That Ate says: Dec 30, 2009. 7:57 PM REP

Didn't take long. A few evenings, maybe.

yjvsryyubvwlax says: Jan 8, 2010. 10:47 AM REP

How do you get the tabs off without ripping the part that is riveted? Stuff I drink seems very well riveted!

PikminRed says: Jan 7, 2010. 10:39 AM REP

I'm using brass looking root beer tabs to create chain mail for the shoulders of this costume: (nice jacket eh? (that's why I want it))

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mr monoply33 says: Jan 1, 2010. 8:11 PM REP

Finally got a hold of a camera to record, & some one/place to do it.

quixotiCfluX says: Jan 6, 2010. 6:24 AM REP

That is fantastic, I look forward to seeing the missing footage.

mr monoply33 says: Jan 6, 2010. 8:27 PM REP

Haha thanks! I can not express how aggravated I can not find it. when I had it on the floor, I set the camera down, accidentally on timer, and snappa really cool shot I've been using as a desktop background. It gives me a date, and a file name. It's DSCN7122 created on Sunday, November 9, 009. I've tried searching my PC for stuff made the same date, and DSCN712 (hopefully turning up the other 9 files from the chronologicalname) and got nothing. Which can only mean that I never pulled it off the SD card from my camera. I've been tearing the house apart looking forsomething the size of a postage stamp, found lots of cards, tutorials If forgot I made, half a marching band season I forgot I recorded, 1/4 of my

summer, but no poptab work. Although I got my silver fingers in this one, Took me weeks for my thumb to regain flesh tone. lol

florjanj says: Jan 2, 2010. 4:09 AM REP

this is the bes project on the INSTRUCABLES!

Homi Joe says: Dec 30, 2009. 8:19 AM REP

Does it matter if you use some of those square dr. pepper pop tabs?

katanatech says: Dec 7, 2009. 5:40 PM REP

i have a question, i keep having a problem with where i cut the tops, they keep unhooking through the same cut do you have any ideas on how to keep thetogether after they are hooked together

moosofa says: Dec 15, 2009. 1:18 PM REP

What i'm doing is taking some needle nose pliers and shutting them, trying my best not to overlap the tow "arms". After that I just take a little hot glue aseal them shut (since soldering them shut doesn't seem to be an option.)

katanatech says: Dec 15, 2009. 5:09 PM REP

oh okay cool thanks ive gotten pretty far now and they dont seem to be fall ing apart like they did at the beginning thanks for the idea

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moosofa says: Dec 22, 2009. 9:31 PM REP

No prob! Any ideas on how to measure i t out to fit your body?

tankguy says: Dec 28, 2009. 10:25 PM REP

you could cut a piece of card board to the size of your torso and make it on top of there.

tankguy says: Dec 28, 2009. 10:28 PM REP

or what ever part of your body you want to cover

tankguy says: Dec 28, 2009. 10:24 PM REP

You should test it with a bb gun.

mr monoply33 says: Nov 24, 2009. 1:19 PM REP

I TOLD YOU I'D GET ENOUGH POP TABS TO MAKE THE FULL BODY ARMOR! OVER 3K OF THEM!

Step 2, assembly, 3..testing. All will be uploaded. This tutorial will be linked in video descriptions

moosofa says: Dec 15, 2009. 1:44 PM REP

Who is this Faceman, where do I get one, and why does he drink so much soda?

mr monoply33 says: Dec 15, 2009. 2:32 PM REP

He's a friend of mine that was collecting these for a school fundraiser, but missed the deadline. He was collecting them from family & friends for awhile, and it wasn't worth it to send them in for scrap, but figured he's find a use for them. I do indeed have this done. Full body is complete, looksawesome, but my camera is dead...

moosofa says: Dec 22, 2009. 9:32 PM REP

Oh I see. Nice! The second you get that camera running again, we want pics!:O

mr monoply33 says:Dec 23, 2009. 1:22 PM REP

If it weren't under warranty, I would have myself by now, unfortunately doing so would void the warranty to future problems...

circuitmage says: Dec 3, 2009. 11:43 AM REP

Got my first 60 done, looking good. Ordered ~3000 more to complete it.

Pic when I get it done.

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