How to Make Basic Wire Earrings

You can make your own earring wires by using a good quality wire.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jewelry Beads
• Jewelry Supplies
• Dowel Rods
• Jewelry Wire
• Pliers For Jewelry Making

1. Cut two pieces of 26-gauge wire 2 1/2-inches long each.

2. Use round nose pliers to make a loop on one end of each wire by clamping the end of the wire in the pliers and twisting to form a loop. The loop should be closed as much as possible. In the next step, the bead will slide up and cover the end of the wire.

3. Slide a small bead onto the wire, up to the loop, and over the end of the wire. This will hide the cut end of the wire.

4. Make a coil to slide next to the bead to hold it in place. Make the coil by wrapping a short piece of 28-gauge wire around a piece of the 26-gauge wire about four wraps; slide the coil off the wire and slide onto the earring wire up to the bead.

5. Use pliers to bend the earring wire upward from the coil.

6. Wrap the earring wire around a dowel rod or large ink pen to make the hook section.

7. Use a burr cup to smooth the end of the wire that will go into your ear. To use a burr cup, place the end of the wire into the cup and turn until smooth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase jigs to make wire jewelry or make your own (see "eHow to Make Curly Wire Napkin Rings). Jigs allow you to make the same design over and over for a uniform look to your necklace and earrings.
• Use an old French wire earring as a guide when making your new wires.
• You can use a bead on wire set to hang on the earring or coil a piece of wire into a fun shape.
• Use a hypoallergenic wire, surgical steel, gold or silver wire to make your earring wires.
• Wear safety glasses when cutting or trimming wire.

[write4grammy]

on 8/4/2009 Yes, a 20-22 gauge half-hard for earrings works best. Also, if you don't have a burr-cup, you can use the file part of a nail clipper to smooth the ends of the earwires. That has worked for me until I could purchase the burr-bup.

[sweetwatergifts]

on 5/27/2009 Agreed - I use 20 gauge most often and 22 gauge half-hard if workable.

on 12/16/2005 26g wire is way too thin to use for making ear wires. I use 20 or 22 gauge. The 20g is a bit sturdier but the 22g does work as well. The 22g does need to be hardened by hammering over an anvil.