Post subject: Silver Cable Chain Vendor Suggestions
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 4:13 pm
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:29 pm Posts: 578 Location: Dallas, Texas
I've been banging my head against the wall trying to find a replacement vendor for a flat cable chain that we use for pendants, and safety chains as well. The chains we bought were from a vendor that has been bought out and we can't seem to find the same thing through the new owner. Hopefully someone here uses the same thing.
I'd like to find them again in gold as well, but right now we really need to find them in sterling silver.
Many vendors call them a flat cable chain, although I've seen them marketed under several names.
The links are flat on the sides allowing them to take a nice polish, and under a loupe look like washers hooked together into a chain. This also makes for a pretty strong, small cable which works well for kids as they don't get stretched easily.
We use them in various sizes including .9 (gold), 1.2, and 1.4 mm (gold & silver), but the hard part about finding a good replacement vendor for these chains is finding someone who makes them with strong enough links to make the smaller sizes useful. For example on the ones we were getting, the links were so thick, that you could barely force a jump ring through the hole in the middle of the link. This made the .9 chains as strong as many of the 2.3 chains I see marketed today.
Also, we were able to purchase these with lobster claw clasps. Most all similar small chains we've found come with spring rings which means the first thing we have to do is cut off the clasp and add a lobster.
In trying to find a replacement I've checked:
Stuller
Rio Grande
Quality Gold
Royal Chain
Kim Imports
Roseco
Southeastern
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
_________________ -Trace
I'm only here because my flux capacitor is broken.
Last edited by MacGyver on Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:29 pm Posts: 578 Location: Dallas, Texas
That may work Wolf. Most looked a little light weight, but there is a 1.1 on the first page I think, and a 1.2 at the bottom of the second page that look like the wire is pretty thick.
Their prices are a little higher than the wholesale houses we deal with, but it appears that they have a tiered pricing structure so maybe that's not really the case. I noticed this place is also offering free shipping which is certainly worth a lot.
I'm going to place an order and see how we like it.
Thanks Wolf.
Edit: Quick update Wolf. Based on my quick math, the opening in a single link on the chains you suggested would be about .560 mm on the ones with 28 gauge wire. Then of course you have the other two ajoining links. Our jump rings measure .530 with calibers. I think we may have a winner. I'll keep you posted.
_________________ -Trace
I'm only here because my flux capacitor is broken.
Glad it may be a fit Trace had another link where they sold it by the foot or spool (spool being 50 ft or so) ... unfortunately when the old puter went bust lost it in the favorites list (now addies in favorites list are now also listed in a tree killer (hard copy)
Spent about 3 days looking but no luck finding it again *shrug* back up is now hard copy
_________________ A Chinese proverb says "Gold is valuable, Jade is Priceless."
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:29 pm Posts: 578 Location: Dallas, Texas
Seems like it will be a fit Wolf. If you come across someone selling it in gold please let me know. I'd like to find someone selling the .9 for safety chains like that, but since HMS is gone it seems to be non-existent.
Thanks Alberto. BTW, love the new avatar. Which scope and camera set up are we seeing?
_________________ -Trace
I'm only here because my flux capacitor is broken.
Joined: Fri May 12, 2006 11:24 am Posts: 7523 Location: Rome, Italy
MacGyver wrote:
BTW, love the new avatar. Which scope and camera set up are we seeing?
thx Trace, that shot was taken four years ago during a gemmo marathon at my mentore office. It's my SZ7 with the Moticam 5000 fitted on it. i placed a little fan above the camera to cool down it a bit, usually during those sessions we stand at the scope for more than 10 horus a day..
this is another shot of the setup took the same day.
a 300+ carats afgani aquamarine crystal in the scopes well, my mentore at work on his AO gemolite in the background.
ciao
alberto
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