Spiral Wire End Caps

by Abby Hook

Category: Findings
Technique(s): Making Spirals
Skill Level: Beginner

End caps are a very useful to add to your arsenal of handmade jewelry findings. In this tutorial, you learn to make an end cap with a 9mm internal circumference but you can adapt the technique to any size you want, as long as you have a mandrel of the correct size (don't forget that you can use any cylindrical object e.g. pencil, drill bit or kebab skewer!).

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft 1/10 Sterling Silver Filled Wire

H10-18D

Lesson Quantity: 8.00 inches
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $1.56
Gold Club Price: $1.17

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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

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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

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Flat Nose Wire Pliers

G2-506

G2-506
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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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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Premium Nylon Jaw Pliers

G2-35

G2-35
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.95
Gold Club Price: $11.21

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Wubbers Half-Round Mandrel Pliers - Large

PLR-1680

PLR-1680
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $43.95
Gold Club Price: $32.96

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5 Piece Steel Mandrel Set

G7-5

G7-5
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
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Price: $12.95
Gold Club Price: $9.71

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Instructions

Step 1:

Prepare the End Cap

Cut a piece of 18 gauge wire 8" long. Straighten it by grasping one end with the flat nose pliers and pulling through the jaws of the nylon jaw pliers.
Hold the wire against the 6mm mandrel at a 90° angle, with a 1" tail (this will be used to form the spiral top of the cap).

Carefully wrap the wire around the mandrel, ensuring the wire stays at 90° to the mandrel to make sure the wrapping is straight, using the 1" tail to hold the wire in place.

Continue wrapping until you have 7 coils.

Pro Tip: Do not let go of the wire until you have finished coiling, as you will lose the tension on the wire and will have gaps in the coils.

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Prepare the End Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, hold the wire against the mandrel

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Prepare the End Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, wrap the wire around the mandrel

Step 2:

Form a Spiral

In the 1" tail, form a small loop with the round nose pliers. Trim the tip of the wire off, by holding the flat edge of the flush cutters at a 90° angle to the straight wire from the loop. Notice how this opens the loop up again.

Close the loop by grasping with the round nose pliers and turning the loop.
Grasp the loop with the flat nose pliers and shape the wire around the loop, using the pliers to aid your grip and to help guide the wire into place, by stopping it from overlapping itself.

Return the cap to the mandrel, so that you do not distort the shape while forming the spiral. As the spiral wire gets shorter, slide the cap to the top of the mandrel, to give you room to work.
Continue the spiral until it is the same diameter as the cap, so that it fills the end, approx 2 ½ - 3 rotations (including the loop).

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Form a Spiral, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, start a loop

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Form a Spiral, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, Form a small loop and trim the tip

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Form a Spiral, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, close the loop

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Form a Spiral, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, make a spiral

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Form a Spiral, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, return the cap to the mandrel

Step 3:

Finish the Cap

Remove the cap from the mandrel and carefully squeeze between the jaws of the nylon jaw pliers, to close the gap between the spiral and the coils.
Note: - Be very gentle, if you squeeze too hard you will squash the cap out of shape.

Trim the tail (approx ¼") from the bottom of the cap. Grasp the tip of the wire with the chain nose pliers, holding the jaws at a 90° angle to the end of the wire

Carefully bend the wire 90° towards the inside of the cap, so that the end is hidden inside.
Note: - This can take a little practice, to get the pressure on the wire just right, so that it bends in the right place, without disturbing the shape of the cap.
Grasp the cap between the thumb and forefinger of your less dominant hand, holding all the coils in place, while you shape the end with the other hand.

Now the cap is shaped, grasp with the nylon jaw pliers once again, in the same way as before, to give one final squeeze, closing all gaps, it also helps to harden the wire in position.

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, squeeze the cap with nylon jaw pliers

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, trim off the tail

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, bend the tail

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, give it another squeeze

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, finished caps

Abby Hook's Spiral Wire End Caps - Finish the Cap, Findings & Components, Toggles & Clasps, Earwire & Headpin, Spirals, Wire Spiral, Spiral Wire Wrap, spiral wire caps

Reviews

Abby Hook

In 2009 I decided to pursue a dream I had harboured for many years, to start my own jewellery business! So that is exactly what I did. I love what I do, it is not just a job to me - it my passion and obsession! Born and raised in North London, I grew up surrounded by artistic people. Living in a very close community with a diverse mix of characters, I was able to try my hand at a whole array of crafts, from sewing to polymer clay modelling. I come from a long line of artists, my Great, Great Grandfather was Frank Paton, well known for his realistic portrayal of both wild and domestic animals using oil paints, but he is probably more fondly remembered for his pencil etchings. Many other family members have continued the tradition of painting and drawing. Although I enjoyed drawing, I wasn't particularly good at it. Imagine my delight when I discovered the possibility of bringing things to life with wire! I am the Author of Wire Jewellery Masterclass. The idea for writing this book seemed to me like a natural progression from the writing of individual tutorials. It allows me to place the various skill levels in order, offering a starting platform for the complete novice, through to the more advanced levels, as well as giving ideas for more experienced wireworkers to develop their existing abilities