Hardware Store Bracelet

Step 3 Cut and straighten the wires.

Begin by cutting 24" of the 18 ga copper wire. Clean and straighten it, then cut it into four 5" pieces. One 4" piece will remain.

Smack the 5" pieces flat using the anvil and the hammer. Try to keep them as straight as possible. They will lengthen by about 1/4" and curve somewhat; simply straighten the curve using the nylon pliers. Polish them with the cloth and file one end smooth. Set aside for the moment.

Double over the 4" piece and smack it gently. This piece should not be as flat as the others. Polish and set aside.

Comments

[FridaFreak]

Great instructions, however, in Step 8 I found it very difficult to bend the two twisted wire ends into the already wrapped piece. I unwrapped the flat wire, bent the two twisted wires in, then rewrapped the flat wire around the end. Also, I tucked the flat wire ends into the flat wire wrap -- you didn't mention how to finish flat wire ends.

[RaNDoMLeiGH]

Ah, I can see how it could be hard to get them in there. I think I did lift up the end of the flat wire half a turn, but it was one of those things you do automatically and kind of forget to mention it. You don't need to tuck them in very far, though, because by that stage of assembly they are pretty work-hardened and don't need holding down as much as just being covered up so they don't catch on clothes, etc. As to finishing the flat ends, when you trim the pieces after hammering them flat, you simply file the ends so they aren't scratchy. They actually stay pretty flat on the inside without any further work. Using the nylon pliers to pinch each wrap as you wrap it will ensure that the wraps lie perfectly flat and are tight enough to hold themselves, and the cage, in place. Well spotted -- I seem to have left out those details due to familiarity. The wire-pinch technique is a basic technique of wire wrapping, kind of like telling someone to put a knot in the thread before you start hand-sewing. It gets to be so automatic that you forget to mention it. Thanks for the comments, and I'm glad that you caught that. The copper patinas up so nicely.. I'd forgotten how shiny this bracelet starts out.