Wire Practice Worksheet Exercise 3A

Helpful Hints for Wire Working: Use the correct shaped pliers for the bend or turn you’re planning. Be sure not to grip the wire too hard, or you’ll leave dents and scratches. When you cut wire, always flatten or file the end to get rid of the pinch. If the wire is too stiff to work with, anneal it. Use 16 gauge copper wire unless otherwise specified.

Horse Shoe, step 1 Measure a 1 ½ inch piece of wire. Mark the center of the wire with a Sharpie. Slightly flatten each end and file off the point with a needle file.

Horse Shoe, step 2 Turn a small loop on each end with the tips of round pliers. They should both go the same direction. Try to keep them the same size.

Horse Shoe, step 3 Hold the Sharpie mark on the wire in deep in the jaws of round pliers, with the small loops facing up. Use your fingers to push the loops down to create the horse shoe shape. The small loops should be touching when you finish. Tap lightly with a small rawhide mallet on the anvil to flatten.

Tight S Hook, step 1 Cut a 2” piece of wire. Mark the center of the wire with a Sharpie. Slightly flatten each end and file off the point with a needle file.

Tight S Hook, step 2 Turn a small loop on each end with the tips of round pliers. They should both go opposite directions direction. Try to keep them the same size.

Tight S Hook, step 3 About halfway between the center mark and one end loop, with the closest end loop facing up, hold the wire about halfway deep in the jaws of round pliers. Push both ends down until the loop touches the Sharpie mark in the center. Repeat on the other side. Tap lightly with a small rawhide mallet on the anvil to flatten.

Spiral Dangle, step 1 Measure a 2 inch piece of wire. Slightly flatten each end and file off the point with a needle file.

Spiral Dangle, step 2 Turn a small loop on each end with the tips of round pliers. They should both go opposite directions direction. Try to keep them the same size.

Spiral Dangle, step 3 Hold one of the loops flat in the jaws of flat pliers, with the length of the wire sticking out to one side. That will be the center of the spiral. Press the length of wire around to continue making the spiral. Shift the wire as needed, until you get to the other loop. Tap lightly with a small rawhide mallet on the anvil to flatten.

Reversing Open Spiral S, step 1 Cut a 2” piece of wire. Mark the center of the wire with a Sharpie. Slightly flatten each end and file off the point with a needle file.

Reversing Open Spiral S, step 2 Hold one flattened end in the tips of round pliers. Turn end of wire around to create an open spiral. Stop when you get to the Sharpie mark. Repeat with other side, going in opposite direction. Tap lightly with a small rawhide mallet on the anvil to flatten.

Right Angle Solder Joint, step 1 Cut a 1” piece of 12 gauge wire. This is thicker than what you were using on the rest of this worksheet. Mark center of wire with Sharpie. File a notch in the center of the wire using a triangular needle file. It should go about 1/3 to halfway into the wire.

Right Angle Solder Joint, step 2 Fold the wire toward the filed side until it makes a 90 degree angle. Pickle, rinse, dry, and prepare to solder.

Right Angle Solder Joint, step 3 Put a flattened piece of medium solder on the block. Flux the joint, then lay it on top of the solder. Be sure they are touching. Use the little torch to solder the joint by heating around the wire. Remember: wire is thin and melts easily! Quench, pickle, rinse, and dry.

Butt Joint, step 1 Cut two 1 inch pieces of wire. Hold the center of one piece deep in the jaws of round pliers. Push sides down to create a U shape. File the bottom of the U flat. Repeat with other piece.

Butt Joint, step 2 Put a flattened piece of medium solder on the block. Flux the flattened areas of each U, and lay them together on top of the solder. Be sure all parts are touching. Use the little torch to solder the joint by heating around the wire. Remember: wire is thin and melts easily! Quench, pickle, rinse, and dry.

Closed Jump Ring, step 1 Use the rest of your wire. You’ll need about 5-7 inches. Wrap your wire around a pencil, bezel mandrel, or other cylindrical object as many times as you can, forming a long spring.

Closed Jump Ring, step 2 Using wire cutters, cut straight through the center of the spiral, making several open jump rings.

Closed Jump Ring, step 3 The cut ends are pinched to points from the wire cutters. File them flat. Close jump rings. Pickle, rinse, and dry jump rings.

Closed Jump Ring, step 4 You solder a jump ring closed just like any other ring. It’s just tiny. Put a flattened piece of medium solder on the block. Flux the joint, then lay it on top of the solder. Be sure they are touching. Use the little torch to solder the joint by heating around the wire. Remember: wire is thin and melts easily! Quench, pickle, rinse, and dry. Round the jump rings on the bezel mandrel.