Questions you should ask Yourself before making a Chainmail

Questions You should ask Yourself before making a Chainmail

Q: Why do I want to make a chainmail?
A: a) You are bored and have nothing to do evenings and weekends for the upcoming year or so.
b) You think you will have practical use for it.
c) You don't think you'll have practical use for it, but want one anyway.
d) You are a member of SCA.
e) You are not a member of SCA but want to become one, after making a chainmail.
f) You practice the fine art of Live Role Playing.
g) You think it will be comfortable to wear.
h) You think it will look cool to wear at partys.
i) You want to make an extraordinary wedding outfit.

If it's a, g, or h, I'd recommend you to think this over one more time.

If it's c, d, e, f or i; continue to the next question.

If you answer b... well... I'm sure you have your reasons, but I'd rather not know.

Q: So what do I need to make a chainmail?
A: This all depends on your:
1) money situation.
2) level of desperation, and
3) skills or lack thereof.

If money is no concern at all, buy one.
If money is of more concern, but still not of great concern and your skills are not as good as you'd want it to be, buy rings (ask a local SCA member as to where to get it, they're usually helpful), and let someone else put them together in a pattern you decide.
If your skills and money situation is decent, buy rings (as in above answer), borrow some books from a library about armoury or, once again, ask a local SCA member if they pretty please could help you.
If money is of concern, but skill isn't a problem; make rings out of steel wire.
Unfortunatly this will also be more time consuming, of understandable reasons, and therefor nothing for the more impatient. On the other hand, noone who's impatient would consider making a chainmail in the first place, so this shouldn't be anything to worry about.
If money is of great concern, but your level of desperation is equal thereof, use plastic.
If money is of no concern but you're outright greedy, see the above answer.
If you have a secret wish to look like a combination of a Stormtrooper and a midieval knight, also see the above answer, but be sure to use white plastic.

If any of the last 5 answers aply to you, you might also need a set of special pliers.

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