How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool

by Stephanie Eddy

It never fails. I plan, I pack, I forget something vital to complete a jewelry project. One summer, while fishing with my husband, I found myself in the middle of Canada with no coiling tool. Fortunately we were staying in our RV and there were wire coat hangers in the closet.

Instructions

All you need is a wire coat hanger plus cutters, chain-nose pliers, a file, and tape. Using the bottom straight side of the hanger, cut 12".

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, cut the hanger

Use a file or sandpaper to remove any burrs from each end. This will allow the coil to slide off the rod. No file or sandpaper? A cement slab or other rough surface may also work to smooth the ends of the rod.

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, file the end

About 1-inch from an end, use the chain-nose pliers to bend the end at a 90 degree angle.

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, bend the end

Make a second 90 degree angle to form a crank.

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, bend the wire

Wrap a piece of tape in the corner of the second angle. The tool is complete!

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, add tape

To use the tool, anchor the wire (from the spool) by wrapping several times around the rod just below the tape. Bring the wire behind the top angle, over the top of the rod to the front.

Stephanie Eddy's How to Make an Emergency Coiling Tool - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Coiling, Coiling Wire, Wire Coiling, anchor the wire

Place your forefinger and thumb tightly over the top of the rod where the wire and rod intersect. Grip the rod so that it fits into the palm area of your hand and is anchored with your pinky finger.