Twisting wire is one of the most basic metal working techniques. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t tips and tricks to make the work more interesting and easier to do. Connie Fox has been covering wire work basics and interesting techniques in her series “Wire Wise Q&A” in “Step by Step Wire Jewelry” Magazine. The notes here are meant to augment her article in the Fall 2006 Issue.
Here are some of the practice bracelets I made in exploring different ways to handle the ends. Please note that for each bracelet there is a set of notes (like the ones that I recommend that you keep when you experiment with twisting wire). By reviewing my notes, you should be able to reproduce any of these bracelets. These are just notes, so unnecessary details are missing.
12ga O wire – 18” piece (Ag)
Anneal
Fold in half
Twist with hook in hand drill
20ga O wire – 18” piece (Cu)
Fold in half
Insert into loop
Lay wires into cracks
Determine desired length
Cut ½” longer (to allow for hook)
Separate 12ga wire back about 1” – 1 ½ ” from end
Bend one wire around the other 3
Tighten, cut and secure
Bend remaining end into hook
Finish ends
Tumble
24ga O wire – 18” – 3 pcs.
Anneal
Loop and twist together tightly
Anneal
10ga O wire – 18”pc
Anneal
Slip 24ga twisted wire on 10ga loop
Insert dowel into loop – twist 10ga – leave out 24ga
Lay 24ga into crack of twist
Flatten brass wire
14ga O Cu wire
Twist together (Vise Grips)
Clip flat wire to allow bead on 14ga Cu wire
Bend end to secure bead
20ga O wire – 18” Cu
Fold in half
Twist
Flattened Brass Wire – 9”
Twist together
10ga O wire – 9”
Twist together
Use flat wire to wrap around and secure ends
Clip and file other wires.
10ga □ wire Cu – 9”
Twist tightly
10ga O wire Cu – 9”
Twist together
Rectangular Brass wire – 9”
Twist together
Form into bracelet
Wrap rectangular wire around others
Cut ends and finish
20ga O wire Cu 18”
Fold in Half
Twist
Rectangular Brass wire – 9”
Twist
12ga O wire Cu – 9”
Twist together
Wrap 12ga wire around others to secure ends
Clip wires and finish
14ga □ wire
R-hand twist TIGHT
Rectangular wire
Twist together
12ga O wire
Twist together
Wrap ends
Finish
12ga O wire
14ga □ wire
10ga O wire flattened
Twist together
10ga O wire – 2
Twist together
14ga □ wire
Twist randomly