The Five Cs of Wire Wrapping Step 4 Cover then Cut

by Melissa Cable

Your beautiful wrapped coil is complete and now all that's left is trim the excess wire from the tail. Seems simple, right? Well, it is, but there are a few tricks to doing it right. You want to safely cut the tail without accidentally cutting through your circle or coil while making sure you don't leave a pointy wire end sticking out.

Before we get into the tricks, let's talk safety. This is the most important part of Step 4. When you cut the small wire tail, it can fly. Worst case, it could hit your eye or embed in your foot. Best case, it annoys your beading buddy or significant other.

ALWAYS COVER YOUR CUTS.

When you're ready to cut, position your wire cutters where you want to snip, then cup your hand over the cutters. This prevents the wire from flying. You may feel the force of the wire on your palm, which is a good reminder of the potential danger. Make sure to cup your hand enough to avoid cutting yourself and watch the tips of the cutters. Safety glasses are also recommended.

In Step 3, we discussed finishing your wrapped coil with the tail perpendicular to the circle. This minimizes the risk of cutting the circle and allows a closer cut. Your wire cutters should lay flat over the circle so the tips reach the base of the tail.

TIP: Gather all your tiny cut ends so they don't scatter on the floor. I use a piece of painter's tape, sticky side up, on my bench to collect trimmings. It keeps pointy ends from rolling off the table and makes cleanup quick.