Daily Wire Tip April 21: How Do I Keep Square Wire From Twisting When Wrapping?

By on April 21, 2010
Print Friendly

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
April 21, 2010

Question:

I’m fairly new at this and am having difficulty keeping the square wire “on the square” when wrapping around a bundle of wires. How does one keep the wire from twisting or tweaking when wrapping the bundle?

Answer:

When you are wrapping a bundle of square wires, think of it as a plank, which has 4 square corners. Therefore whether wrapping with half-round or square wire, the wire wrapper needs to make a right angle at every corner, which keeps square wire ‘on the square’. Using a good pair of flat nose pliers such as Swanstrom makes a major difference for a lot of folks.

The first DVD in my beginner series features my absolute favorite class for learning how to wrap with square half-hard wire (as well as how to easily straighten any wire, bundle and a great way to tape it all together.) The All Wire Unisex Bangle Bracelet will be able to help you in all of these areas.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

Have a question? Submit your question here

3 Comments

  1. avatar

    mary

    April 21, 2010 at 8:10 am

    Let me add to this since it was Dale who corrected my problem years ago when bundling wire. Be sure you have taken the time to straighten your wires after you have cut them. I was sloppy at that and because of it was having a heck of a time even getting the wires to lay flat and close to each other. Once I slowed down, took the time to straighten, the wires did lay down in place like a plank of wood.
    Course then Dale had to correct my other bad habits….LOL I’m better for it, “thanks Dale”.

  2. avatar

    Donna Davis

    April 21, 2010 at 8:15 am

    Thank you for this tip. I always have trouble with joining two stacks of wires, such at the bail end of a cabochon. This technique will keep my wires tight and make my work neater.

  3. avatar

    LindaB

    April 21, 2010 at 10:33 am

    I have found using painters (blue) tape to wrestle those wires and keep them together while I wrap has helped. When I was first learning to wrap wires I would tape them every couple of inches until I caught on to mastering the technique and now only use it where my wraps are to be placed.