This is the simplest of all possible chains, just one ring through its two neighbors. The sizes listed here are the “chunkiest” sizes that will work for a basic 2-in-1 chain. If you increase the wire size or decrease the ring diameter, there simply won’t be enough room for everything to fit. I include this pattern in my lineup both because it’s helpful to see the lower size limit for a particular gauge, and also because sometimes you do want a really simple, chunky chain.
For example, these slide beads play very nicely with chainmail – if you can fit a small-yet-strong chain through them. Once the chain is through, add larger rings on each side to trap them (as shown in this necklace), or extend that small size if you want the slide bead to be able to live up to its name and “slide.”
If you work in millimeter sizes, the ring size to use for Spiderchain slide beads is 2.25M18 (shown on the left). This is the best combination of thick wire for strength, and small enough ring to fit through the bead. Working in inches, the best ring size to use is 5:19 (shown on the right). This size allows the bead to move freely. If you don’t need the bead to have free travel, then you can bump that up to size 6:18 (just a little bit stronger) which fits through the bead, but sometimes hiccups as it slides along the chain.
Inch Sizes
| size | 4:22 | 4:21 | 5:20 | 5:19 | 6:18 | 6:17 | 7:16 | 8:15 | 9:14 | 10:13 | 11:12 | 12:11 | 14:10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rings/inch | 15.25 | 15.25 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 10.25 | 10.25 | 8.75 | 7.75 | 7 | 6 | 5.5 | 5.25 | 4.5 |
| inches/ozt | 94 | 65.5 | 53.5 | 41 | 34 | 25 | 21.5 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| chain diameter | 2.5mm | 3mm | 3.5mm | 4mm | 4.5mm | 5mm | 5.5mm | 6mm | 7mm | 7.5mm | 8.5mm | 9.5mm | 11mm |
Millimeter Sizes
| size | 1.5M22 | 1.5M21 | 1.75M20 | 2M19 | 2.25M18 | 2.5M17 | 2.75M16 | 3M15 | 3.5M14 | 3.75M13 | 4.25M12 | 4.75M11 | 5.25M10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rings/inch | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12.25 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6.75 | 6.5 | 5.75 | 5 | 4.5 |
| inches/ozt | 85 | 62 | 52 | 41 | 32 | 25 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 9.5 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| chain diameter | 2.5mm | 3mm | 3.5mm | 4mm | 4.25mm | 4.5mm | 5.25mm | 6.5mm | 7mm | 7.5mm | 8mm | 9.5mm | 10.5mm |
