Page 12A      Making Many Figure 8 Connectors with Jewelry Wire -- Jewelry Making Technique

In the prior page, we discussed how to make a single figure 8 connector.  On this page, we will discuss how to make a lot of figure 8 connectors while conserving your wire. 

Step 1:  Straighten a segment of wire at least 1 inch long.  Be certain that you have a flush cut on the end of the wire.    See the picture below-left. 

Step 2:  Grasp near the end of the wire with your Fine Step Jaw Pliers.  See the picture below-center. 

Step 3:  Make a loop in the end of the wire.  This is a two or three step process.  You will need to twist the pliers to make a partial loop, then re-orientate the wire so that you can complete the loop.  In the picture below-right, you can see that we need to squeeze and twist the pliers one more time until the loop is fully closed. 

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3

Step 4:  Remove your wire from your pliers.  You loop should appear as shown below-left. 

Step 5:  Now we need to make the second loop in the figure 8 connector.  You can use your fine step jaw pliers, but perhaps the easiest way is to grasp the wire as near the first loop as possible with your round nose pliers.  First, insert your round nose pliers into the initial loop so that you can see where on the round nose pliers you need to grip the wire so that both loops will be the same size.  Then grip the wire at that point as shown below-center. 

Step 6:  Complete the second loop as shown below-right.  This is a two or three step process as you will need to do about 1/2 a loop, then re-orientate the wire on your pliers so that you can fully complete the loop.  After you have reoriented the wire, push the wire the rest of the way around the jaws of your pliers.  When completed it will appear as shown. 

Step 4	Step 5	Step 6

Step 7:  Remove the wire from the jaws of your pliers and it should appear as shown below-left. 

Step 8:  Now you need to cut the excess wire with your flush cutter.  Position the flat side of your flush cutter as shown below-center and cut the wire at that point. 

Step 9:  Your finished figure 8 connector should appear as shown below-right. 

Step 7	Step 8	Step 9

Step 10:  Because the cut of the wire in step 8 left a sharp end on the wire on your spool, in order to be ready to make your next figure 8 connector, you need to cut about 1/16 inch of wire of the end of the wire.  Make the cut with the flat side of your flush cutter toward the spool of wire.  Now you are ready to go back to step 1 and make your next figure 8 connector. 

In some applications we need a connector similar to the figure 8 connector so that we can connect two loops that we would otherwise be unable to connect, but we do not want to change the orientation of the components being connected.  For these situations we use a modified figure 8 connector made as described on the following page.