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Making Your Own Wire Rings & Clasps
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When
using colored wire in your wire-wrapped jewelry designs, you might want
to make jump rings and clasps that match your wire color. There’s
a special tool that makes creating your own jump rings a lot easier. This
method ensures that you’ll get even, consistent jump rings.
The
mandrels come in different sizes to make coils in a variety of diameters.
To make a coil, insert the wire end into the small hole on the jump ring
maker base. Place your finger inside the large hole on the base and turn
clockwise while holding the mandrel and wire in your other hand. To turn
the coil into jump rings, remove it from the mandrel and use diagonal
cutters to clip the rings apart. To make split rings, cut every other
ring.
To make your own wire clasp, cut a 6” piece of 20 or 22-gauge wire.
Fold the wire in half and use chain nose pliers to press the folded end
together. About 3/4” away from the fold, use round nose pliers to
make a loop on one wire. Wrap the loop and the other wire together. Use
chain nose pliers to bend the doubled wire in half to form a hook. Cut
off the extra wire that’s protruding from the loop. Kink the end
of the doubled wire to prevent jump rings from sliding off the end too
easily.
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