About the cut of the links:
My links are cut with clippers. The ends of the link butt up kind of like this: >< .
I have used these links extensively and they generally do not snag or catch on clothing.
Link Data
See Below for explanations.
| code | metal | gauge | wire dia | link size | link size | exact ID | links/kg | Force to open (lbs) | links/sq ft (4 in 1) |
| AL143/8 | Aluminium | 14 | 0.085" | 3/8 | 0.375 | 0.395 | 3000 | 14 | 1180 |
| AL145/16 | Aluminium | 14 | 0.085" | 5/16 | 0.313 | 0.337 | 3395 | 15 | 1590 |
| AL161/4 | Aluminium | 16 | - | 1/4 | 0.250 | - | 7300 | 10 | - |
| AL163/16 | Aluminium | 16 | - | 3/16 | 0.188 | - | - | - | - |
| BL141/4 | black | 14 | 0.081" | 1/4 | 0.250 | - | - | - | - |
| BL143/8 | black | 14 | 0.081" | 3/8 | 0.375 | 0.388 | 1135 | 27 | - |
| BL145/16 | black | 14 | 0.081" | 5/16 | 0.313 | 0.325 | 1325 | 30 | - |
| BL161/4 | black | 16 | 0.063" | 1/4 | 0.250 | - | - | - | - |
| BL163/16 | black | 16 | 0.063" | 3/16 | 0.188 | 0.2 | - | - | - |
| BR141/4 | brass | 14 | 0.064" | 1/4 | 0.250 | - | 2140 | - | - |
| BR143/8 | brass | 14 | 0.064" | 3/8 | 0.375 | 0.438 | 1410 | 10 | - |
| BR145/16 | brass | 14 | 0.064" | 5/16 | 0.313 | - | 1655 | - | - |
| BR161/4 | brass | 16 | 0.050" | 1/4 | 0.250 | 0.293 | 3400 | 11 | - |
| BR163/16 | brass | 16 | 0.050" | 3/16 | 0.188 | 0.21 | - | - | - |
| BR165/16 | brass | 16 | 0.050" | 5/16 | 0.313 | - | 2710 | - | - |
| BR203/32 | brass | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| GA141/4 | galvanised | 14 | 0.080" | 1/4 | 0.250 | - | - | 40+ | 2570 |
| GA143/8 | galvanised | 14 | 0.080" | 3/8 | 0.375 | 0.393 | 1135 | 33 | - |
| GA145/16 | galvanised | 14 | 0.080" | 5/16 | 0.313 | 0.333 | 1325 | 37 | 1830 |
| GA147/16 | galvanised | 14 | - | 7/16 | 0.438 | - | 840 | - | - |
| GA161/4 | galvanised | 16 | 0.062" | 1/4 | 0.250 | 0.265 | 2700 | 20 | - |
| GA163/16 | galvanised | 16 | 0.062" | 3/16 | 0.188 | 0.202 | - | - | - |
| GA165/16 | galvanised | 16 | 0.062" | 5/16 | 0.313 | - | - | 16 | - |
| SH161/4 | hard stainless | 16 | 0.063" | 1/4 | 0.250 | 0.285 | 2340 | - | 2210 |
| SH165/16 | hard stainless | 16 | 0.063" | 5/16 | 0.313 | 0.361 | 1910 | 24 | 1030 |
| SP203/32 | hard stainless | 20 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| SS161/4 | stainless | 16 | 0.062" | 1/4 | 0.250 | 0.269 | 2500 | 21 | - |
| SS163/8 | stainless | 16 | 0.062" | 3/8 | 0.375 | - | - | 12 | - |
| SS163/16 | stainless | 16 | 0.062" | 3/16 | 0.188 | - | - | 28 | - |
| SS165/16 | stainless | 16 | - | 5/16 | - | - | - | - | - |
| SS223/32 | stainless | 22 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Code:
The product code helps my order processing software. The first 2 letters are the material, the next 2 are the wire gauge and the rest are the link size.
Metal:
Rather self explanatory. Click here for the metals page.
Gauge:
Gauge (Gu) is the inverse of the wire diameter, for example 16 Gu wire is 1/16" thick. The higher the gauge number the thinner the wire. The only problem is there are 2 different measurements of gauge. I am not sure how the other "gauge" measurement works but the wire is definitely thinner then it should be.
Wire dia:
Measured wire diameter in decimal inches. Accuracy is +-0.001".
Link size:
This is the size of the rod that the link is made with. The actual link size will be slightly larger then this; the springier the wire the larger the difference. The first entry is fraction inches, the second entry is decimal inches for comparison with the exact ID.
Exact ID:
This is the measured interior diameter of the link. Note that the brass and hard stainless rings are significantly larger then the rods that the wire is wrapped around.
Links/Kg:
The number can be useful when calculating the number of links in a piece, the weight of a piece or for comparison shopping.
Force to open:
The force to open is the weight (in pounds) required to open a single ring by about the wire thickness. Normally a load would be spread over many rings. The brass and hard stainless rings are springy enough that they partially spring back after they are opened.
Links / sq. ft:
The number of links per square foot of 4 in 1 mail can help you determine how many links you need for your project. Go here to determine how many square feet of mail you need.
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