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Wire wrapping

· 1 min read · Techniques

Illustration: Wire wrapping

Wire wrapping creates jewelry by bending, coiling and weaving wire, without soldering. It is used to mount cabochons, beads and crystals.

Steps of the technique: Cut the wire, Straighten, Make the loop, Wrap, Harden, Finish
Summary of the steps

Basic techniques #

  • Simple loop and wrapped loop: to join beads and links.
  • Spiral coil: to finish and decorate.
  • Wrapped pendant: the wire surrounds a stone and holds it.
  • Wire braiding and weaving.

Wire #

Copper, silver, brass or plated. The temper (“dead soft”, “half hard”) and gauge determine how it works. See rolling and wire drawing.

Tools #

Round-nose pliers, flat-nose pliers and flush cutters; nylon-jaw pliers. See pliers and tweezers.

Tips #

Do not mark the wire with the pliers and harden it with a nylon mallet when finished.

Step by step #

  1. Cut the wire. A little longer than needed.
  2. Straighten. With nylon-jaw pliers.
  3. Make the loop. With round-nose pliers.
  4. Wrap. Coil the wire two or three turns.
  5. Harden. With a nylon mallet.
  6. Finish. Cut and tuck away the ends.

Tools and materials #

  • Soft copper, silver or brass wire
  • Pliers (pliers)
  • Flush cutters
  • Nylon mallet

Common mistakes #

  • Leaving sharp ends.
  • Marking the wire with the jaws.
  • Using hard wire: it breaks.
  • Not hardening the piece at the end.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.