Step 8: Using your round nose pliers make a loop in the wire.
Make the loop as close to the right angle bend as possible. When
completed your wire should appear as shown at right.
Step 9: With your flush cutter cut the excess wire at the point
where the loop in the wire overlaps. Remember to cut the wire with
the flat side of your flush cutter toward the finished piece. Use
your bent chain nose pliers to close the open loop that you Step 10: Again, with your flush cutters, cut the initial loop (the loop that was placed on peg 1) off your wire, as shown at right. Step 11: Using your cup bur or a fine nail file, round the end of the cut wire to remove any burs or sharp edges. You can view how to do this here. Step 12: Now you are ready to harden the ear wire to make the
shape permanent. The best way to do this is with a chasing hammer
and an anvil or bench block. Place the wire component on the anvil
or block and hammer with the metal chasing
Step 13: We finish this project by adding a bead dangle to your ear wire using a head pin and one or more beads. Instructions for making a bead dangle can be found here. In the following page we will discuss a couple of alternative designs for these ear wires. . |
just completed.
hammer.
Use many light strokes of the hammer rather than a few heavy blows.
You will want the wire to deform slightly, especially the rounded portion
at the top of the ear wire. This hardens the design and makes the
shape
permanent.