Thursday, July 30, 2009

Wire Wrapping Tutorial

This is my first tutorial, so go easy on me ;)

First you need to get acquainted with different kinds of wire.

Materials: You can get them in a variety of materials. I opt for the affordable route of colored copper-this way it gives the look you want (i.e. silver) but it's not costing an arm and a leg.

Thickness/Gauge: The larger the number listed on the packaging, the thinner the wire. For example, 26 gauge wire is thinner than gauge 22 wire. It's nice to have a variety of thickness for different projects and experimenting.

Tools: Basic wire cutters and pliers are your standard tools. Having tools that have grip to them are helpful when working, but at the same time they can damage the wire and lower the quality, so it's best to work with smooth pliers. It's fun as well to have a variety of objects you can base a design off of-a pen to wrap around, etc.

Once you are equipped with everything needed, it's pretty easy to just give it a try. When it comes down to it, it's all trial and error for me. There are a lot of errors and having to re-start items. Always make sure to tuck in edges when ending the wire so that it can't catch on anything or scratch. I say just go for it-give it a whirl!

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