Page 5      Making Loops in Jewelry Wire Jewelry Making Technique

The final technique for making "P" Loops that we will discuss is the technique for making "P" loops in larger gauge wire and/or very hard wire.  With this wire, you will often find that the wire is too stiff to be able to easily make an initial loop in the wire.  When you try to grasp only 1/16" of wire into the jaws of your round nose pliers the wire will slip out of place.  Here is a technique that we recommend using with larger gauges of wire.  Begin with about 1/8" of wire sticking through the jaws of your pliers or more if necessary.  This would normally cause a looping violation for a loop that isn't round.  Here is how we avoid getting a citation for a non-round loop.  Make a loop in your wire that is more than 360 degrees, but offset this loop as shown in the picture above-right.  To complete the loop once you have the wire in the position as shown above, you use your flush cutter and cut the excess wire at the point where the wire begins to cross itself.  That will leave a loop that is opened.  You will need to close this loop using your bent chain nose pliers to twist the loop into the fully closed position. 

This technique for making loops results in some excess wire being wasted, but provides you with a nice round loop in a heavy or stiff piece of wire.  In this case the trade off is worth it.  Please see page 14 for some additional detailed pictures in how to make loops in larger gauges of wire. 

In the following page we will discuss how to turn a "P" loop into an "eye loop".