LaurelB over at the About jewelry making forum recently asked for help. She knew how to form round spirals or flat scrolls (see tutorial link below) but she wanted to know how to form square ones.

With square versions, you need just your broad nose or chain nose pliers to make 90 degree bends along a length of wire. If this is new to you, don't try any thicker than 20G wire to start with.

First make a bend not far from the wire end. It might help to use a small broad nose pliers at the first attempt to get the distances right for the first few bends.

Then another the same distance along.

The next bend will be a tad longer as it has to clear the wire end. (This was the part which tripped up LaurelB).

Keep going! Make the distance longer if you want an open spiral. Open informal spirals are easier to make than trying to get them absolutely dead square.

Tip 1 Use your nylon jawed pliers to straighten out the wire before making a bend.

Tip 2 Work harden the component by hammering with a pvc or rubber mallet.  If you want to flatten it, then bang away with a metal hammer.

Tip 3 Using a chain nose pliers at the beginning will get you a tighter look. You can also offset the angles for a different look. There are no hard and fast rules in making this. So experiment!

And there you have it. The basic square spiral component. What you do after to make it your jewelry design is up to your creativity.







Here are three of my designs for inspiration:

 
The simple double spiral earrings using the square spiral as a fancy headpin end 


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Update:
Check out Cristina Ramos' excellent new tutorial over at the My Precious Bits of Sunshine blog on how she makes the Greek spiral as she calls it.

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    Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
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