Things You'll Need:
- chain nose pliers
- round nose pliers
- flat nose pliers
- wire cutters
- needle file, wire rounder or cup burr
- bench block or anvil
- hammer or mallet
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Step 1
Wire cutters.Wire cutters are used to cut wire. There are a variety of wire cutters that can be used but most wire jewelry artists prefer side cutters or flush cutters.
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Step 2
Round nose pliersRound nose pliers are used to form loops in wire. The tapered ends allow the wire artist to create loops of different sizes. Round nose pliers come in different sizes. Many wire artists purchase multiple round nose pliers (from very small to quite large) to get a range of loop sizes.
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Step 3
Chain nose pliers.Chain nose pliers are used to close loops and push the wire in place while wrapping. The shape of chain nose pliers often determines how and where the tool is used.
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Step 4
Flat nose pliers.Flat nose pliers are also used to close loops and push the wire in place while wrapping. The shape of flat nose pliers also often determines how and where the tool is used.
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Step 5
Bench block and mallet.You will need a hammer or mallet and a steel bench block or anvil to hit your wire creation after forming to harden the metal and allow the jewelry you created to retain its shape. Raw hide and plastic mallets will not mar the metal or add texture. Ball pein and other hammers can be used to add texture to the jewelry creation in addition to hardening the metal.
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Step 6
Where needed, a needle file, cup burr or wire rounded are used to file the ends of cut wire smooth. If you do not have any of these tools, you can use your flat nose or chain nose pliers to smooth out the ends of wire when it is pushed securely in place.
Comments
Mitestarossa said
on 5/12/2009 Great jewelry making tips.