Making Wire Jewelry - Wire Wrapped Jewelry
Wire wrapping is one of the oldest hand making jewelry techniques. Components made of jewelry
wire and materials similar to wire like pins are connected to one another using mechanical techniques,
not soldering or heating the wire. Doing this requires wire to be bent into loops or other decorative
shapes and then wrapped around itself to finish the wire components, hence the name. This technique
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dates back thousands of years to where spiraled components have been found.
It was rare back then and still is. Wire wrapped jewelry is not as common or as mass produced for
several reasons. This jewelry is hand made and therefore requires several hours of time to complete
one piece and sometimes one component. The ability to solder has made wire wrapping a more
common practice.
There are differences between making jewelry by wire wrapping and other techniques. Wire wrapped
jewelry is made out of wire and wire components, such as head-pins, jump rings and other such
materials. It is also made using mechanical connections without heat treatments like soldering. Loops
of wire are connected to another by components. The most simple forms of loops are P loops, where
the wire is literally in the shape of a P, and eye loops, where the loop is a full circle that centers over the
stem of the wire. These are essentially open loops which allows them to opened mechanically (with a
tool) to connect it to another component. A closed loop implies that the end of the wire is wrapped
around the loop so that the loop cannot be opened. It is also called a wrapped loop and results in the
implication of the wire wrapping name.
Many of the tools used for all jewelry making are used for wire wrapping. The basics include the flush
side cuts, the round nose pliers and the chain nose pliers. Flush cuts are such that one end of the wire is
cut flat while the other end is sharp or pointed. Round nose pliers are used effectively for making
several types of loops. And the chain nose pliers have smooth jaws and are used for holding wire. You
can also use chasing hammers, jigs, nylon pliers or any other tool you might have for jewelry making.
Obviously wire is essential, but choose wisely. It comes in several shapes (round, half-round, square,
etc.) and in many more materials. Sterling silver is easily manipulable and holds it's shape once
formed. Copper and brass are easy to shape and manipulate, copper being able to be thinned out more
than the stiffer brass. Gold filled wire fuses 12k gold and another material so that the bond is
permanent, making it less expensive than gold. Wire is measured by gauges or diameter. The higher
the number of the gauge, the smaller the diameter. Therefore 16 gauge is fairly heavy, making it ideal
for bangles and some types of bracelets. 26 gauge wire is nearly as thin as hair and good for beads with
very small eyes.
Memory wire is very rigid and pre-coiled, keeping its shape. It works well for earings, bracelets and
rings. Beading wire is typically a nylon coated stainless steel wire. Copper wire can be color-coated
(a.k.a. enameled copper wire) and still can be manipulated. Precious metals are typically found in three
