A method and apparatus for reducing the amount of metal used in a chain as compared to a chain formed of a round wire, the method including the steps of forming a wire having a non-round shape, wrapping the wire around a mandrel to form a spiral of the wire, the mandrel formed such that it supports the non-round shape of the wire with a longer dimension of the wire extending radially from an axis of the mandrel, cutting the spiral of wire to form individual links of wire, and forming a chain from said links.