If you have been cycling for while I’m guessing you’ve gone through a chain or two. With the holidays around the corner why not upcycle that used chain you have lying around collecting dust into something useful or at least decorative. Simple bike chain star ornaments for the holidays. Give them as gifts or hang on your tree. They are easy to make and look great, too.
What you need:
1. Chain
3. Super Glue
Optional: for a gloss finish try Mod Podge or an acrylic high gloss varnish. Liquitex Mod Podge will work great.
Step 1
After you clean your chain, get your chain breaker tool out and break off five links. Make sure the two ends fit together. You’ll need to push the pin all the way out. If you were fixing your chain in the wild, DO NOT push that pin all the way out.
Step 2
The easiest way to make these is with an old board and small nails. Put the two ends together and place the nail through the open hole, this will be where your ribbon will go later.
Nail the chains to the board so you can glue and shape them.
Step 3
Make them into star shapes and get your super glue out and glue the joints.
Step 4
Once the glue is dry, brush them with a varnish or mod podge for a shine.
Step 5
After the coating drys maybe 10 minutes or so, add your ribbon of choice.
That’s it! Super easy and a fun project.
How to clean a dirty chain
For slightly dirty chains I used Finish Line degreaser or Simple Green. Toss the chain in an old plastic bottle and cover the chain with the degreaser. Put the lid back on and shake like mad. Leave the chain in the bottle for a day or two, and when all the gunk has settled to the bottom, cut off the top off the bottle and pull out your chain. Wipe it off and you should be good to start making stars.
Have fun making your bike chain stars!
If you make some, I’d love to see how they turn out.
See ya on the trails!
Jan