How to Make Your Own Head Pins
Making your own head pins allows you to add creative elements to your jewelry designs while saving money on findings and supplies. Once you master the technique of making your own head pins, you will never find yourself without this basic supply when in need of a head pin in the middle of a jewelry-making project. You can fashion head pins out of silver, brass, gold or artistic colored wire.
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Things You'll Need
- 20-gauge wire
- Flush wire cutters
- Chain nose pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Metal file
Instructions
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1
Cut a 2-inch segment of wire using flush wire cutters. Flush wire cutters have a slanted tip and allow you to achieve a more precise cut when working with beads, head pins or other items that require care when cutting.
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2
Bend the 2-inch wire segment at a 90-degree angle using chain nose pliers. Begin the bend 1 inch from the end of the wire.
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3
Grasp one end of the wire with round nose pliers.
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4
Wrap the wire around the bottom jaw of the pliers with your fingers. Complete one full wrap around the bottom jaw.
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5
Remove the loop from the bottom jaw of the pliers and slide the loop onto the opposite loop of the pliers. This will adjust the loop so that you can make another full loop that's unobstructed by the other jaw of the pliers.
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6
Continue to make loops, switching jaws after each loop, until you have a complete spiral.
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7
Cut the remaining end of the wire extending from the spiral using flush wire cutters.
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8
File any rough edges from the head pin using a metal file.
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1
Tips & Warnings
While this method produces a nice tight spiral, you can also use this method to create a more jagged and varied design.
