Getting Started - Quick Tips to help the Beginning Wire Wrapper

Hi there Ambitious!  ;))

Okay, so you're brand new to wire wrapping, but decided to give an intermediate to advanced project, a go anyway... awesome! Here are some quick tips that might help you get your impulse started off on the right and enjoyable foot.

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​1.  Handling long lengths of thin wire (potentially up to 6 feet at a time)

• Don't learn using sterling silver or gold.  Get copper or craft wire in 28 or 30 gauge.  It feels as thin as thread, but can't be handled that way.  The more the wire is 'pulled' like a thread, through other wires, the thinner and more brittle it becomes.  This will quickly cause kinking and breaking.  It's a gentle feeding of the thin wires, through tight spots that works best for me.
• I lay the 'long end' of the wrapping wire, out over my lap, draping down the side of my chair.  I handle the 'wrapping' end, in a way akin to 'knitting' and as I work, I allow the length to work up from my side.  
• Some folks 'loosely coil' the longer end, unraveling lengths as they wire wrap.  Find what works best for you.  The objective is to manage the thin wire so that it doesn't kink, break, knot, etc... as you work.
• Why is it so long?  Most of the time, it's not and you can hide cut ends, but the reason I work with longer lengths is to minimize the tiny cut ends.  If making a ring shank, for example, you don't want a bunch of cut ends on the inside of the shank, next to the skin, because they have the potential to 'scratch' or poke the wearer.   Leaving cut ends on the outside, unfortunately, leaves potential for catching on clothing.  Be mindful of where you cut, if you need to cut and continue wrapping the tiny wires.

2.  Gotta make a tight spiral?

• Use your round nose pliers to create the first one or two loops into your spiral, then use flat nose pliers to finish it up.  Using the flat nose to handle your wire, rather than the round nose, helps to prevent 'pits' along your wire.

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