Here’s a quick way to make the links for link and pin couplings.

First, decide what size your Links will be - this should be an obvious thought, but you never know. I then make a 4″ long brass bar with a cross section slightly smaller in overall size than the INSIDE of the Link, by cutting and filing the brass to shape. My current piece of bar is just a length of 1/16″ x 1/4″ strip with the long edges slightly rounded — it need not be too fancy in appearance.

Photograph © Jeff Saxton

On one end of this bar, drill a hole the diameter of the Link you want. I use 1/32″ brass wire.

Next heat a length of brass wire the correct diameter until red, and let it cool.

Insert one end of the wire into the hole in the bar stock, then tightly wrap the wire around the bar to form a coil roughly the shape you want. Work as much of the wire into a coil as you can.

After you have the coil done, use a razor saw and cut along the long edge of the coil, thus forming many links in one action.

Take the now loose links, bend their ends back until they are touching, and glue or solder the joint closed. I find I can get about 20 to 25 links per foot of wire.