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Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin. Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap. Sometimes you have a bead that needs dressing up a bit, or a design that requires an extra bit of pizzazz, these bead cages are perfect! Alternatively you can use them to encase a round object to create a simple pendant or pair of earrings!<br /> <br /> This tutorial teaches you how to make a cage suitable for a 10mm bead, there is also a section at the end which includes some measurements for different size beads.

Spiral Bead Cage

by Abby Hook
  • Category: Findings
  • Technique(s): Making Loops, Making Spirals
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Sometimes you have a bead that needs dressing up a bit, or a design that requires an extra bit of pizzazz, these bead cages are perfect! Alternatively you can use them to encase a round object to create a simple pendant or pair of earrings!

This tutorial teaches you how to make a cage suitable for a 10mm bead, there is also a section at the end which includes some measurements for different size beads.

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire
H10-18D
  • Lesson Quantity: 5.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $1.56
  • Gold Club Price: $1.17
Out of Stock
African Turquoise 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-736
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.45
  • Gold Club Price: $7.09
Out of Stock
Amethyst 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-636
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $13.65
  • Gold Club Price: $10.24
Add to Bag
Blue Crazy Lace Agate 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-24
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.45
  • Gold Club Price: $7.09
Add to Bag
Blue Lace Agate 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-720
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $15.97
  • Gold Club Price: $11.98
Add to Bag
Bronzite 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-80
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.45
  • Gold Club Price: $7.09
Add to Bag
Carnelian 10mm Round Beads - 8 Inch Strand
A1-753
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $9.45
  • Gold Club Price: $7.09
Add to Bag
Add All Items to Cart

Tools

Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
Add to Bag
Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
Add to Bag
C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Add All Items to Cart
Instructions
Step 1:
Prepare the bead cages
Cut a piece of 18 gauge wire 5" long, straighten and form a small round loop on each end, so that they face inwards on the top edge of the wire.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Prepare the bead cages, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, form a small loop
Step 2:
Form spirals
In order to form the cage around the bead, the easiest way to do this is to form 2 spirals in either end of the wire, so that they overlap.
Grasp one loop with the flat nose pliers as shown.
Pull the length of the wire round the loop, by holding it at the end with your fingers, so that the wire follows the line of the loop.
Notice how the spiral has started to form.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Form spirals, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a spiral
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Form spirals, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a spiral
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Form spirals, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a spiral
Step 3:
Continue working around the loop
Re-position the pliers and shape the wire round the loop a little more. Ensure the wire sits tightly against the loop, before re-positioning the pliers again and shaping a little more of the spiral, until you have 3 full rotations.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Continue working around the loop, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a spiral
Step 4:
Complete the cage
Form a spiral in the other end of the wire, in the same way.
Carefully grasp the spiral with the flat nose pliers and continue shaping the wire until the 2 spirals overlap and the central loops are in line.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Complete the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a second spiral
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Complete the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, overlap the spirals
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Complete the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, overlap the spirals
Step 5:
Shape the cage
The cage now needs to be shaped, so that the bead fits neatly inside.
Insert a pin or needle flat between the 2 spirals and slide it round one of the spirals until you have made one full rotation, with 2 rotations of the spiral untouched. Repeat on the other side.
Notice how this opens a gap between the spiral wires and a cage is beginning to form.
Grasp either end of the cage with your finger tips or nails and gently pull to open the cage up to 1/3" or 11mm, so that it is long enough to accommodate the bead.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Shape the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, open the spiral cage
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Shape the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, open the spirals
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Shape the cage, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, open the spirals
Step 6
Gently push the bead into the cage, between the largest gap in the spiral.
Once inside, squeeze the cage closed slightly with your fingers, so that the ends line up perfectly.
Slide the bead round in the cage so that its hole lines up with each end of the cage.

Pro Tip: Insert a piece of scrap 24 gauge wire that is at least 3" long and bend around the caged bead, pushing the cage against the bead. Twist the scrap wire together to secure. This allows for any fine adjustments to the cage and keeps the hole in place ready to be used.
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, insert the bead
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, insert the bead
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, insert the bead
Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - , Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, attach a thin wire
Step 7:
Different size beads
You can change the look of the design by using 1 larger caged bead and 4 smaller beads (6 - 8mm) see below for wire lengths for the different bead sizes:
8mm = 5"
10mm = 5"
12mm = 7"
14mm = 10"
16mm = 12"
As a general rule, the larger the bead, the larger the hole, so it may be necessary to use a larger bead size if you are struggling to find a 10mm bead with the correct hole size.
The outer edge of the double spiral that you have at the end of step 22 should be slightly larger than the bead, to ensure it fits around the bead once stretched.

Abby Hook's Spiral Bead Cage - Different size beads, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, spiral bead cages

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