Wire Wrapped Rings

You need to cut a length of wire, anywhere from 20 cm onwards depending on how many wraps you want to create. Be careful when cutting wire, make sure you wear your safety glasses.

You can straighten clean and harden your wire a little by holding it in your non dominant hand, using your dominant hand rub down the wire with 0000 steel wool, (available from the hardware store) but dont over do it.

Place your bead in the centre of the wire and pop it a little above the final measurement you need for your ring, I usually work 1/2 a size smaller. now wrap each end of the wire once around your mandrel as seen in the image left.

Now just keep on wrapping the ends around the bead, yes that’s right it is that easy. You can wrap just once or several times depending on the look you are after.

When you are all done wrapping around your bead, begin wrapping the ends down the ring shank a little, one wire per side. If your having to bend your wire to get it through the ring snip the ends a little shorter.

If you used side cutters and your ends are a little sharp, rub them against an emery board first to round out or use a cup bur, then use your pliers to tuck the two ends in. I place them just on the side so they don’t dig into your finger and can’t catch on anything.

If you have a metal ring mandrel you can place your ring on it and wriggle it down a little till it is the exact size you need, ever so slightly stretching the ring, you can even hammer it gently with a rawhide hammer to get a lovely round look.

And whalla! there you have a lovely ring that I assure you will delight family, friends and customers alike.

Want to try something different? then wrap without a bead and make some intricate swirls, or try an oval or other shaped bead, the sky is the limit.