When I stumbled upon Wyatt White of Beadalon's technique of making an easy coiled wire bangle, I knew it was a winner! It is a quick way to make a stable wire form bangle which works like memory wire in that it holds its shape and is claspless. Adding beads with some simple wire wrapping results in one of a kind designs.
The video demonstration shows him using the Coiling Gizmo Deluxe which has 5 mandrels. He used the largest to coil 14G wire, a very thick gauge indeed.
But the demo doesn't show anything in detail. So I had a go at this super technique and took pictures as I went along. I don't have the same wire coiler as he does though. But the Coiling Gizmo Deluxe is definitely going to be a Christmas present to myself!
I had to use the largest mandrel of my Artistic Wire Worker (I think Beadsmith carries it). The Coiling Gizmo Deluxe is secured onto the bench and makes the coiling easy. As mine is not attached to anything, I would have to exert considerable force to wind thick wire like the 14G he used. My poor fingers! So I compromised and worked with 18G copper wire and wound it up and down the whole length of the mandrel in an uneven manner.
I then trimmed off the excess wire.
Wyatt must have very strong fingers using just a bent nose pliers to tuck in the thick wire ends! I'm a wuss so I found better luck with broad nose pliers.
Next bend the coiled wire form into a circle, with the ends almost touching. The 18G is still thick enough to form a stable bangle.
This is optional. I patinated the copper wire so it was darker - the inside remained darker while the exposed areas were lightly buffed with #0000 steel wool which became shinier as I worked on the wire wrapping. Yes, my fingers got a little dirty! Alternatively, you could patinate the final bangle if the beads you use are okay with the process. Liver of sulfur is most commonly used to patinate metal such as copper.
I recommend using 26-28G wire to do the wire wrapping. Although I do find 24G visually more appealing as it is thicker. Cut off about a foot or so of wire - it really doesn't matter if you run out as you can just start and stop anywhere. Start at one end of the bangle by wrapping a few times around the form. Feed a bead onto the wire and wrap it in place with the same number of wraps you used to start. I used 3 wraps. Find appropriate sized gaps for different sized beads. I also sometimes widened gaps temporarily so I could fit beads in. Be careful to squeeze the coils together after and always maintain the overall circle shape of the bangle.
The bent nose pliers is useful to help with the wire wrapping process - maneuvering the wire, tucking in the cut ends after wrapping and giving it a good tug for snugger fit.
Wire in as many beads as you like. I found round beads easier to insert than bicones. And that is all to it! Every bangle is sure to be one of a kind!
Most of the beads were courtesy of
Prima Bead provided as a member of the Prima Blogging Team. This design first appeared in my
Prima Bead New Year's Eve Jewelry Inspirations post.
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