wire wrapping crystal grateful dead dancing bear

#Wire wrapping crystal grateful dead dancing bear how to#

There are a few other tools a newbie to wire wrapping might find handy: If you do other metalwork you’ll have to make an investment.

You’ll lose them before they wear out if you’re only wire wrapping. If you’re only wire wrapping then a cheap set of files is fine. You push them along the end of the wire and they cut, but drawing them directly back while maintaining pressure on the metal is damaging. Standard files cut only one way, but tend to outlive diamond files. The linked set contains both standard and diamond files.ĭiamond files work like sandpaper on a stick, they’re just a diamond abrasive bonded to steel. If you’re buying a set specifically for wire any small set of files works. Filesįiles or sandpaper aren’t essential but they can help add a cleaner finish to your piece. You can certainly grab a pair of wire cutters from your toolbox, but you’ll spend a lot of time filing as well. The pair of cutters you use needs to be flush cutters or you’ll spend a lot of time on finish work. If you’re looking to get into the bigger fabricated wire pieces or other kinds of work with non-ferrous metals then they’re a better value. I personally use a larger pair you’ll see in the tutorial. Cheap pairs can shatter when cutting thicker wire, a good pair will deform and be easy enough to repair.

These usually shouldn’t be used on wire any bigger than 18 gauge(roughly 1mm). Your cutters need to be sharp and strong enough to cut the wire you’re looking at.įor most people a small pair of micro-shears is exactly what’s needed. You can start with a cheap pair of round nose and flat nose pliers without any problems. There are many types available but they’re all going to be rather expensive.īut all of those specialty pliers are really only needed for those planning on getting serious. Mandrel Pliers -Great for getting the same repeating curve.They also allow you to work at odd angles. Bent Nose Pliers -Great for wrapping wire tighter when attaching it to more advanced framed pieces.They’re a personal favorite for that reason but they’re not a requirement. Tweezer Nose Pliers – With a very fine tip, these pliers are great for adjusting fine details in wire work.Other pliers you may be interested in are:

#Wire wrapping crystal grateful dead dancing bear how to#

I’ll also teach you how to use them to create sharp corners below. They’re essential, but you may only use them a couple of times per piece. You can simply bend them around the round portion of the pliers to get curves, start swirls, and other curvy bits.įlat nose pliers are used to straighten and harden portions of wire. Round nose pliers are used to get curves without marring the wire. Most pliers are meant for technician work on harder metals, meaning they have a lot of grip that will tear into your copper wire. You can use standard pliers for wire wrapping but you’ll need the right pair.

You can purchase others as you need them. I recommend you get a pair of long flat nose pliers and round nose pliers to begin with. I do most of my work with bent-nose pliers and tweezer pliers but these are a bit of a specialty and not necessary for a beginner. Pliers are a hot debate topic in the wire wrapping world, and everyone has their favorites. The following tools will get you started without any fuss. Some people even claim to go entirely tool-less, but that’s a bit of a stretch unless you’re willing to snap every piece of wire by flexing it until it breaks. The big one is that you don’t need a ton of tools to get into it. Wire wrapping is attractive to many people new to working metal for a couple of reasons. Then we’ll get into the good stuff and I’ll show you a way to wrap stones without holes. Let’s dig a bit deeper, and I’ll show you the various tools you’ll need and which wire will work best for you. Wire wrapping is a great way to display your collected stones and other treasures, and anyone can learn the basics with a little bit of time.