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Home >Techniques
Wire Wrapping

Wire Wrapped Links

Tools Required:

Round nose pliers
Flat or chain nose pliers
Side cutters
Bead mat

Tips:

If the bead hole is large when you finish the loop the wire wrap may slide into the hole, "plug" the hole with a small bead, or use bead caps, this will also help the bead to sit straight.

To save money do not precut the wire; thread the bead on the wire and finish the first end then slide the bead back to the wrapped loop and cut about 15mm from the bead (allow extra length if making larger loops).

Keep any scraps of silver or gold wire as they can be sold to metal merchants.

Use the round nose pliers as a guide for how big or small you need your loop to be; the further form the tip that you position the wire initially, the larger your loop will be. We usually use about 1.5mm from the tip.

If making a lot of links, it is easier to finish the first loop as a complete wire wrapped loop and the second end can be the wire wrapped link end.

Don't forget when attaching clasps each loop will need to be a wire wrapped link.

To Start:

Thread the bead/beads required onto the wire; let them slide out of your way and ignore for now.

Hold the round nose pliers in your weakest hand leaving about 15mm of wire free to work with (the tail); leave more if you are making a larger loop.

In your other hand using either the flat or chain nose pliers, hold the tail; the pliers and the wire should be in a straight line.

Think of the wire as the hands of a clock; holding the tip of the wire you are starting at 12 o’clock, and are going to wrap the wire around the round nose pliers.

Remember that you are trying to form a neat loop, so don’t be afraid to be firm.

Depending on what feels more comfortable for you, you can wrap anti-clockwise or clockwise.


Step 1

Hold the round nose pliers in your weakest hand leaving a tail of 15mm, more if you are making a larger loop.


Step 2

Using the tip of your chain nose pliers, grab the wire directly above the round nose pliers.


Step 3

Wrap the wire around the round nose pliers in the direction of 9 o’clock


Step 4

Moving in a continuous action go to 6 o’clock


Step 5

All the way to 3 o’clock.


Step 6

Now you have formed a crossed circle, remove the wire from the round nose pliers and connect to the finding or loop required.


Step 7

Hold the crossed loop FIRMLY with the round nose pliers; this will ensure your loop keeps its shape.


Step 8

Continue to wrap the wire around the stalk


Step 9

Wrap the wire until there are no gaps, and at least 1 ⅓ times.


Step 10

Finish with the wire facing the perpendicular to the round nose pliers if possible; this will make it easier to cut the wire nice and close.


Step 11

Trim the tail with the cutters, putting the flat side of the cutters against the loop and at a slight angle.


Step 12

Your wire wrapped link is complete.