Ask the Experts Wire Wrapping Q&A

Is there an easy way to hold wires together when wire-wrapping? Could I use large crimp beads as a holder?

- Sheila

Many wire-wrapping artists use small strips of masking tape to keep multiple square wires together and in line when forming a wire-wrapped bezel around a cabochon or stone.

 Typically, the bound square wires will then be wrapped with the flat side of a thinner gauge half-round or square wire near the place where the masking tape is holding the square wires together.

Multiple wires can be a challenge to harness as you wire wrap around a cabochon or in a free-form design. If you have specific directions for a design project, follow them carefully, have all materials available for easy access and make certain the wire called for is in the gauges, shapes and tempers recommended.

Large crimps could be better used as a design element in other types of wire wrapping. Use sterling silver crimps to slip onto a few thin wires, add a few beads to float on the wires, follow with another large crimp and repeat the process as you like. Allow the crimp beads to float also or lightly crimp them in place.

- Sandra Lupo, Metalsmith, Jewelry Artist and Instructor