How to Wire Wrap a Piece of Quartz
For jewelry crafters, a wire wrap is a an alternative setting for stones, crystals and minerals like quartz. Wire wraps allow for customization and personalized design and setting. Quartz, a mineral consisting of silicon and oxygen, is ideal for a wire wrap setting as it comes in a variety of shapes and colors. With the right tools and some imagination, do-it-yourself jewelry makers can fashion together a quartz-centered pendant they'll love to wear.
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Things You'll Need
- Quartz
- 4 feet of 20-gauge square soft wire
- 4 1/2 inches of 22-gauge square hard wire
- Tape
- Ruler
- Pocketknife
- Cutters
- Flat-nosed pliers
- Round-nose pliers
- Pen
Instructions
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1
Cut six pieces of the 20-gauge wire into 8-inch strips. Line the wires up next to one another and secure them together with tape at each end. Use the ruler to measure the middle of the wire bundle and mark it with the pen.
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2
Use the 22-gauge wire to create the middle piece. Cut the wire into a 3- to 4-inch piece and fold it around the middle point of the wire bundle with the flat-nosed pliers. Make sure the wire is tight, but not so tight that it can't be adjusted later if needed.
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3
Remove the tape at the ends of the wire bundle.
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4
Use a rounded object, like a dowel, roughly the same size as the quartz to shape the wire bundle. Use a gentle hand to get a nice, evenly rounded shape.
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5
Insert the pocketknife between the outside wire and the rest of the bundle, putting a small space between it and the bundle. With the flat-nosed pliers, fold the outside wire out slightly, giving it a slight crook or corner. Do the same with the outside wire on the other side of the bundle, and then again on the opposite side of the middle piece. This is the setting for the quartz.
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6
Place the quartz in the setting, wrapping the wire bundle around the quartz from top to bottom. The middle piece should be at the bottom of the quartz. Adjust the crooked wires as necessary to secure the quartz, holding it firmly in the setting.
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7
Weave the ends of the wire setting together at the top of the quartz.
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8
Wrap another 3- to 4-inch 22-gauge wire around the top of the setting, closing it off and finishing the wire wrap.
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9
Sculpt the remaining wires into the design of your choice, and then trim the edges.
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Tips & Warnings
Wire wrap settings are very customizable. Jewelry makers can sculpt the top portion into scrolls, hearts or diamond designs, or add more middle pieces throughout the wire bundle. Settings can be intricate and creative, or simple and minimalist.
