The Five Cs of Wire Wrapping Step 5 Clean

The final step of a perfect wire wrapped loop is to clean. This means tidying any remaining tail that could poke you and cause discomfort when wearing your design. The closer you cut (and cover!) in Step 4, the less cleaning you'll need here.

A common mistake is "pushing" the tail down by squeezing it between plier jaws. This can slightly uncoil the last wrap. Instead, imagine you are "pulling" the end down. The key is holding the pliers at the proper angle.

1- Position the pliers so the jaws face the tail. If the tail wraps clockwise, the pliers should point counterclockwise.

2- Try to grasp just the top edge of the wire tail. Angle the plier jaws slightly to catch the top edge, then gently squeeze so the tail aligns with the rest of the coil.

Remember, do not lay the pliers flat on the cut end. Closing them flat can push the tail back and uncoil the last wrap.

3- Depending on the tail length, you may need to reposition the pliers and repeat.

Over time, you'll get so skilled at cutting in Step 4 that little cleaning will be needed. I always clean, though, to ensure my designs are as comfortable as possible.