# Chainmail & Scalemail People ask me how to get into chainmail quite often! Here's kinda my basic rundown, please ask questions if you want more specifics! You basically just need jump rings, and pliers. You can make rings yourself, and you can use any pliers, tho I'd recommend ones without serrations, and that are comfortable to hold for long periods of time. # Tools I use mismatched pliers, holding one of them upside down for most weaves. This gives me a lot of leverage, doesn't require as much fiddling, and lets me see what I'm doing. The pliers I use are below. You don't have to buy from TRL, but that's where I had gotten mine. These are widely available and a common brand. - [Xuron Bent Nose Plier](https://theringlord.com/xuron-bent-nose-plier/) - [Xuron Chisel Nose Plier](https://theringlord.com/chisel-nose-plier/) # Suppliers Vaguely listed in my order of preference. Vendors offer different things, and I use a lot depending on what i'm buying and what I want. I've listed notes for what I typically use a vendor for. | Supplier | What I use for | Comments | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Joshua Diliberto](https://www.joshuadiliberto.com/JD_newWebPages/index.php) | Bulk Stainless steel rings, | Very fast shipping! | | [Chainmail Joe](https://chainmailjoe.com/) | Anodized Aluminum Rings, and Scales | | | [Steampunk Garage Supplies](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SPGsupplies) | Great for Titanium | Lots and lots of kits! | | [Weave Got Maille](https://weavegotmaille.com/) | Hammered scales, and different scale shapes | AWG not SWG for wire sizes<br> | | [Draconic Wares](https://www.etsy.com/shop/draconicwares/) | Anodized Aluminum Scales | | | The Ring Lord | Kinda everything | I don't purchase from them often due to quality inconsistencies. | # Finding Weaves and Resources ### [Maille Artisans](https://www.mailleartisans.org/) The site is kinda a pain, and not all weaves have tutorials, but a great collection of things none-the-less. ### Chainmaille Kits Many vendors offer kits: Steampunk, Chainmaille Joe, and Draconic Wares to name a few. They'll give you the supplies and instructions to do a particular weave. Especially handy if you want to see if you even like weaving! ### Facebook Group - [Chain.Maille](https://www.facebook.com/groups/Chain.Maille/) I'm not personally in this since I don't use Facebook, but I've heard good things from others in the community!