This is Part 2 of Ferret Survival Necklace (Part 1 posted in FML 2692)
 
1.) Using a knife blade of 1/16-inch thickness insert the knife edge into
one of two slits on the upper side of the round 2-way linking clip with the
passthru orifice and press the knife all the way into the bottom of the
clip, thereby opening the slit to 1/16-inch width.  See Figure 2. Opening
2-way linking clip.
 
Repeat this opening of the second slit to 1/16-inch so that both slits are
separated by a gap of 1/16-inch.  This is done to accomodate the 3/32-inch
links that attach the 5/16-inch balls to each other in the steel ball-chain
when the chain is connected to opposite ends of the linking clip.
 
2.)Install one ball into the center of the linking clip and pull that ball
to one end of the clip such that the ball-chain and clip become attached
and cannot be separated unless force is used to separate the clip and
ball-chain by pulling in the direction opposite the direction first used.
See Figure 3. Ball-chain and Linking Clip Attached.
 
3.)Verify that the other end of the ball-chain will fit into the center
of the linking clip and feed it through the link until you have a loop of
chain that will fit around your finger.  The ball-chain should "flow"
freely through the link.  See Figure 4. Ball-chain Thru Link Orifice.
 
Remove the ball-chain that you just fed through the center of the linking
clip so that you now have a single length of ball-chain with the clip
attached to one end only.  This step ensures that there is enough clearance
thru the clip and that there is enough space to attach the other end of the
ball-chain to the clip.
 
4.)Thread the ball-chain thru the linking ring of the tinklebell.  Feed
the loose end of the ball-chain thru the center hole of the linking clip
for a distance or number of balls until the loop formed is about the size
you estimate is large enough to fit snuggly over the skull of your ferret.
Snap into place that ball that is closest to the clip end to form a
completed circular necklace with the tinklebell attached.  See Figure 5.
Completed Ferret Survival Necklace.
 
You have now completed the installation of the ferret survival necklace.
All that remains in the following steps is to size the necklace properly
and to fit it snuggly on your ferret.
 
DRESSING THE FERRET.  This paragraph describes the method that enables the
ferret to be dressed with the FSN in a "fitting" manner.  The term
"fitting" describes the manner in which the FSN is enlarged or shrunk so
that it is ultimately removable by the ferret in the event the FSN should
be accidentally snagged on a projection in such a manner that the ferret
wouldn't be able to wriggle free of the necklace and might otherwise
strangle itself.  Hence, this paragraph is especially important to the
good health and survivability of the ferret and to the basic usefullness
of the Ferret Survival Necklace.  Dressing the ferret breaks down to three
basic elements as follows:
 
1.)  Too tight.  2.)  Too loose.  and  3.)  Just right.  In the first
element of being too tight, this is the easiest to measure and overcome;
in attempting to slip-roll the FSN over the ferret's head and his ears, if
it's too tight, it simply won't go on and the ferret will strongly object
to any forcefullness on your part in trying to dress him with a FSN that's
simply too darn small.  So stop and remove the FSN.  The next step is:
 
See Part 3 in tomorrow's posting.
[Posted in FML issue 2694]