Despite working with most things metal, we really appreciate a little flexibility! That’s why we love working with rubber rings when possible. Bending rubber rings around metal ones allows you to create patterns (and sometimes even color combos) you could never make with metal alone.
Once you’ve finished a rubber maille piece (see below for a few of our favorites), it does not need to be conditioned, but we strongly suggest that you do. Conditioning your rubber chainmaille piece will prolong its life and restore it to its original sheen. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
To condition your rubber chainmaille: Place the item(s) in a zip lock bag. Spray items 2-5 times with Tire Shine or Armor All (a little goes a long way). Close the bag and place it between your hands and rub them together like you’re trying to warm them up for roughly 30 seconds. Remove your item(s) from the bag, rinse them under hot running water,* and dry them with a towel or rag. Do not air dry them; they will become sticky and will need to be rinsed and towel dried again. IMPORTANT: Do not use petroleum-based oils to condition your rubber chainmaille. It will cause your piece to deteriorate over time.
Some of our favorite rubber maille projects (links are below the photo block):
Free & Easy Project: Black and Gold Ring and Earrings
Hex Path Cuff (And check out the video about this project!)
*If you have copper, jewelry brass or bronze rings combined with your rubber rings, use cool water instead of hot. Hot water will begin the tarnishing process on those metals and they will tarnish much faster than usual. Also, be careful with colored metals and do not clean them too often in this way; it will speed up the fading process.
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