This tutorial was inspired by my attempt to wire together some small resin cabochons I had made. I wanted those cabochons to be closer together so these coiled wire hinges were the solution. I am using those resin cabochons as an example. But you could easily use the same technique for any small two hole beads (resin, clay, glass, metal) you want to link together for a bracelet.
You will need :
You can use small knitting needles if you do not have a coiling wire tool. I used the smallest mandrel (1.1 mm) of the Deluxe Coiling Gizmo to create a long wire coil of about 5-6 inches long. The internal space of the wire coil just allows for 4 passes of the 26 G wire. If necessary coax the space a little bigger with the awl.
Measure the depth of your bead. Then separate the long wire coil and cut short lengths. Try to do flush cuts. File ends.
Cut about a 6 inch length of 26 G wire. Go through the wire coil and one hole of the bead twice. The wire ends should then cross through the wire coil and end up on either side of it.
Use each wire end to wrap a few times around the double wire near the coil itself.
Trim and tuck the wire ends neatly so they do not protrude.
Now join up the next bead using the same method and the same wire coil. Continue to connect up all the beads you need for the required bracelet length.
There is no wire coil at the ends of the bracelet. Just use an awl or a small knitting needle to act as a mandrel. Take another length of 26 G wire and take it through the hole and around the mandrel twice.
Then wrap the wire end all the way around the double wire,. Trim and tuck the wire ends neatly. Add jump rings, clasp and charm. See the final design picture below.
Instead of wire coils, you could also use a small metal tube or bead as I did for the blue cabochon tile bracelet.
Disclosure
Photography
I used natural light my iPhone 6S with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS320 tabletop studio for final jewelry photos. Tutorial photos were captured in my windowless basement studio equipped with LED lights. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go:
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
You will need :
- 20 G and 26 G dead soft wire ( I used gold colored fine silver plated copper wire), courtesy of Parawire
- 2 hole beads - I used small resin cabochons made with the molds and resin from Little-Windows.. The holes were manually drilled.
- wire coiling tool (I used the Deluxe Coiling Gizmo)
- flush cutter
- chain nose pliers
- a small knitting needle or bead awl
You can use small knitting needles if you do not have a coiling wire tool. I used the smallest mandrel (1.1 mm) of the Deluxe Coiling Gizmo to create a long wire coil of about 5-6 inches long. The internal space of the wire coil just allows for 4 passes of the 26 G wire. If necessary coax the space a little bigger with the awl.
Measure the depth of your bead. Then separate the long wire coil and cut short lengths. Try to do flush cuts. File ends.
Cut about a 6 inch length of 26 G wire. Go through the wire coil and one hole of the bead twice. The wire ends should then cross through the wire coil and end up on either side of it.
Use each wire end to wrap a few times around the double wire near the coil itself.
Trim and tuck the wire ends neatly so they do not protrude.
Now join up the next bead using the same method and the same wire coil. Continue to connect up all the beads you need for the required bracelet length.
There is no wire coil at the ends of the bracelet. Just use an awl or a small knitting needle to act as a mandrel. Take another length of 26 G wire and take it through the hole and around the mandrel twice.
Then wrap the wire end all the way around the double wire,. Trim and tuck the wire ends neatly. Add jump rings, clasp and charm. See the final design picture below.
Instead of wire coils, you could also use a small metal tube or bead as I did for the blue cabochon tile bracelet.
Photography
I used natural light my iPhone 6S with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS320 tabletop studio for final jewelry photos. Tutorial photos were captured in my windowless basement studio equipped with LED lights. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go:
- How to Make Wire Wrapped Cuff Tutorials (one has a unique hinged clasp)
- More Hardware Inspired Jewelry Tutorials
- How to Use Hardware Hinges for a Polymer Clay Bracelet
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
Really cool idea Pearl, the width of the coil will clearly balance the thickness of the casted slabs. I tried something similar with a metalised plastic spacer once but it broke so I never did it again.
ReplyDeleteThanks. The hinge part has to be metal in order to withstand the wear and tear.
DeleteThanks, Terri!! Have fun with this technique!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea and tutorial Pearl. Thanks so much for the info.
ReplyDeleteMona
Great idea, but now I'll need to add a wire coiler to my wishlist. There is always something on my list, lol. Thanks for sharing Pearl.
ReplyDeleteWell aren't you just a smart cookie!! So easy - but it takes someone to show us how and then it's an 'ah ha' moment!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pearl - it's a brilliant idea!!
As they say, necessity is the mother of invention! I was desperate to make the cabochons closer together!
DeleteCool idea, brings beads closer and adds interest to the design!
ReplyDelete