 Step
5 (Continued). You will also need to bend the initial loop slightly
so that it will lay flat in the same plane as the circle of wire.
This will require a small adjustment using your bent chain nose pliers.
When the wire naturally assumes a round shape, laying flat as shown at
right, you are ready to go to the next step.
Step 6: Now we need to bend the wire tail to a vertical position.
This is done by grasping the wire with your bent chain nose pliers about
3/16" from the point where the wire overlaps in the picture shown at
right. Hold the wire tightly in your pliers and make a 90 degree
bend in the wire. When completed the end of the wire should point up
when the circle of wire is laid flat on a table. Adjust the position
of the wire tail by eye until it is vertical as shown at Step 7: Now we need to make a "U" shaped bend in the
end of the wire. First make certain that the end of the wire has a
flush instead of sharp end. If the end is sharp, cut 1/8" of wire
off the end with the flat side of your flush cutter toward the finished
piece. Grasp the wire in your Step Jaw Pliers or your Round Nose
Pliers and make a bend of at least 180 degrees as shown at right. Step 8: Now we go back to our jig and using a 1" Larger Round Super Peg and one metal peg we make a semi-circular bend in the end of the wire, using the "U" shaped bend to hook on the regular metal peg. Because we used a 2" Super Peg for the base of the stand and a 1" Super Peg for the top of the stand, the "U" shaped bend in the end of the wire should naturally end up over the middle of the stand. You may need to orientate the loop slightly so that it is centered. In the stand shown at right, I did hammer the straight segment of wire between the 2" circle and the 1" semi-circle using a nylon hammer. The wire was placed on a flat surface and hammered to fully straighten the wire. (I used an anvil, but a bench block or cutting board or Wire Press would also work fine.) This completes our Bead Stand. For an earring stand you will probably want at least 4" of height. For a bracelet stand, 5" of height is recommended. |
left. 