How to Make Wire-Caged Beads
Wire-caged beads can be used in many ways. They can be suspended from necklaces as pendants, connected together to form bracelets, worn as earrings or even used as key holders. Wire cages do more than add beauty to beads; they also make flawed, mismatched and leftover beads useful again.
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Things You'll Need
- 20-gauge wire
- Round-nose pliers
- Chain-nose pliers
- Flat-nose pliers
- Beads
Instructions
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1
Use side-cutting pliers to cut a piece of wire about 14 inches long.
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2
Hold one end of the 14-inch wire in your hand and grip the other end with round-nose pliers. Turn the pliers, slowly, to form a small loop. Remove the round-nose pliers.
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3
Form spirals. Hold one end of the wire in your hand and grip the loop with chain-nose pliers or flat-nose pliers. Start turning the pliers slowly in a circular motion, forming spirals around the loop. Continue until you have made spirals large enough to fit the top of the bead.
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4
Use the round-nose pliers to make a loop at the other end of the wire, as in Step 1.
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5
Use the flat-nose pliers or chain-nose pliers to make spirals at this end of the wire, as in Step 2. This set of spirals should be the same size as the first and should have the same number of curves. There should be about 2 ½ inches of wire between the spirals.
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6
Hold the wire with the spirals facing downward. Look for the center of the wire and grip it with the round-nose pliers. Push both arms of the wire up, and then release the wire. The curve in the middle of the wire is the hook that you will use to attach the bead to findings and other accessories.
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7
Place one set of spirals on top of a bead and press down to fit. Place the other set of spirals at the bottom of the bead and press down to fit. Hold the spirals in place firmly and then wrap the rest of the wire around the bead.
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8
Adjust the wire so that the lines are even and the bead is secure in the cage. Bend the hook up so it can be used to hang the bead.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Practice with inexpensive wire, such as silver-colored steel or gold-colored brass, until you are satisfied with your wire cages.
References
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Comments
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These would be a lot better if pictures were added so that the person could know if their project is looking like it is suppose to. just a thought- if I had to depend on these then I doubt that I would know what I do.
