07/14 Cuban Chain

Sunday, July 14, 2024 
2:00 - 5:00 pm PDT 

Instructor: Julia Lowther  

PREREQUISITE: 07/13 Paperclip Chain or equivalent experience winding and cutting paperclip links.

The Miami Cuban link is considered to be an essential style accessory for men and women. It was initially inspired by the rapper and hip-hop fashion movement. Come learn the steps to produce this gorgeous heavy, modified curb link chain.

This class will build on the "04/06 Paperclip Chain" class, when Jennifer Stenhouse will show you how to wind and cut oval links.  Julia will add to this information and show you how to make a tool to help you cut those rings with a jump ring cutter. Various means of fixing the soldered chain for filing will be discussed and demonstrated.

Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate - You will get lots of practice with precise soldering in this class.

 All classes include the video recording, which you will have access to for 60 days after the class. Zoom link and instructions for joining the call will be emailed 1 day (24 hours) prior to class.

The class supply list is below and contains links to buy the supplies you need.

Supply List for Students

The links below will take you to RioGrande.com or other suppliers. To see prices for precious metal items, you need a free Rio Grande account. Students in the Rio for Schools program enjoy wholesale benefits for six months (instructor code = RFSLMF). This site may contain Amazon and other affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, at no cost to you, we may receive a small commission on qualifying purchases.

Recommended Materials:

Choose one or more colors of wire.
A total of 3 feet of wire is needed for about 8 inches of chain.

• 12ga sterling round wire - 100312
• 12ga copper round wire - 132312
• 12ga red brass round wire - 130312
• #2/0 saw blades - 110306
• Dop wax - 201059 OR 
  Two short wood screws and a couple of short lengths of 20ga copper wire
• LPF Paperclip Mandrel size SMALL x .100" (2.5mm) thick
  OR 3/32” steel rod (Ace Hardware) (can use welding rod from hardware stores) You’ll need TWO pieces of rod, each about 6” long
• Solder 3” each: Easy - 101100, Med - 101703, Hard - 101704
• Paste Flux - fluoride free - (Otto Frei 154.440)
  (Ottoflux, Superior #6, Grifflux #1, Dandix = all the same fluoride-free flux)
  (Rio Grande does not carry a fluoride-free paste flux)

Special Tools Needed to make Cuban Chain:

• Parallel action pliers (flat-nose) - 111117
• Bench vise (clamp on) - 113404
• Handy Handheld Vise - Woodstock D4119 (Amazon)
  OR Vise-Grip locking pliers (7WR is a good size) (Zoro)
• Narrow wood board (roughly 12” long, 3”-4” wide, and about ½” thick)
• 1-2 finishing nails

Optional Supplies:

• Heat gun (Amazon)
• Winder (PotterUSA)
• 3” C-clamp (Amazon)

Basic Tools you should have at your bench for this project:

• Torch and fuel (both these torches use disposable 1lb propane tanks, most insurance allows this size inside the home)
  • Bernzomatic Propane Torch - Home Depot (includes built-in lighter/sparker)
  • OR Orca EZ Torch - 114.250 (for disposable tanks) (Otto Frei)
• Sparker or Torch lighter - 114.205 (Otto Frei)
  
• Solderite pad 6"x6" - 502064 or other fireproof soldering surface (fire brick or scrap of cement board, i.e.  Hardiebacker cement board)
• Pickle - 5010233 
  OR sodium bisulfate for pools from the hardware store
• Pickle pot - 501021 
  OR small crockpot
  OR glass jar + PLASTIC lid + mug warmer 
• Copper tongs - 501017
• Flux brush - 115141 
  OR small cheap paintbrush with natural bristles (size 4 is good)
• Solder pick. This can be made from a length of wire coat hanger (pointed on one end with a flat spiral handle)
• Tweezers (for solder placement) - 115018
• Jewelers saw frame (2.25" throat) -110039
• 4/0 jewelers saw blades (pkg/12) - 110304
• Bench pin & anvil - 110014
• Cross-lock tweezers - 115051
• Dividers - 116224
• Brass sliding gauge - 116075
• Pin vise - 113146
• Center punch - 118117
• Chasing hammer - 112225
  OR small ball pein hammer - 119333
• Riveting hammer - 112087 (optional, if you have a chasing hammer)
• Flat/half round forming pliers - 111180
• Chain-nose pliers - 111911
• Flat-nose pliers - 111912
• Round-nose pliers - 111913
• Side cutters - 111931
• Ring mandrel - 112575
• Ring clamp - 113969
• Nylon mallet - 112013
• Metal ruler - 116493
• Flat hand file (#2 cut is good, get a handle as well) - 114925
• Half-round hand file (#2 cut is good, get a handle as well) - 114931
• Set 6 needle files (cut #2) - 114797
• Joyce Chen shears (Amazon)
• Emery board or sapphire nail file (Amazon)
• Sandpaper (800, 600, 400, 220 grits) + popsicle sticks + masking tape
• Sanding sticks (DIY)
• Loupe - 113780
• Patina - Liver of Sulfur gel - 331033
• Polishing cloth - 337039