Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing. Only six inches of heavy gauge wire is used for an easy-to-make a single cuff that can be custom fit to any size.
Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
by Judy Larson
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Dapping, Filing / Finishing
  • Skill Level: Beginner
Only six inches of heavy gauge wire is used for an easy-to-make a single cuff that can be custom fit to any size. And you can double as in the picture!

Stamp names or special words or phrases on the inside of the cuff. Use the internet to find the latitude and longitude of a place that holds special meaning to stamp inside your bracelet.

This design looks particularly nice when two cuffs are interlocked and/or soldered together, or when two are paired side by side. Consider wearing cuffs of several different metals.

Materials

10 Gauge Round Dead Soft .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-10D
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 inches
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $24.19
  • Gold Club Price: $18.14
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Tools

Classic Wubbers Round Nose Pliers
G2-1235
  • G2-1235
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $27.97
  • Gold Club Price: $20.98
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Nylon Bracelet Bending Plier
PLR-840.00
  • PLR-840.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $19.97
  • Gold Club Price: $14.98
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Xuron Flush Cutter - Pack of 1
G2-504
  • G2-504
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches
G17-44
  • G17-44
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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BALLPEIN HAMMER SUPREME- 8OZ
HAM-430.18
  • HAM-430.18
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $12.95
  • Gold Club Price: $9.71
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6 Piece Assorted File Set with Wooden Handle
G14-7
  • G14-7
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.57
  • Gold Club Price: $4.18
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Instructions
Step 1
Cut a 6" long piece of wire. 10 gauge wire is used in this tutorial. Hint: Heavier gauge wires are hard to manipulate because of their thickness. It will be much easier to make the cuff if the wires are annealed before starting.
Lightly mark the center of the wire with an ultra fine point Sharpie.
Place the mark in the center of the jaws at the base of round nose pliers. Bend the wire in half, trying to match the ends. The bend created will not be tight against the pliers and the wire ends may cross. If the wire ends crossed, straighten so they parallel to each other.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 2
Using a light touch and a rawhide, plastic or rubber hammer, hammer the bend until a soft "U" shape is formed. The distance between the two wires close to the "U" should be about 3/16" and no more than ¼". If making two cuffs to interlock, make sure that both "U's" are hammered to the same width. It is very important to not hammer the "U" into a tight "V". This will create too much stress at that point when the bracelet is put on and taken off and a crack could form over time. The cuff could then break at that stress point.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 3
Use an ultra fine point Sharpie to mark both wire ends one inch down from the bend.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 4
Lay the unit on the bench block so the wires ends are side by side. Hammer and lightly texture the "U" shape no further down than the 1" marks. Flip the piece over and repeat on the opposite side. Hint: Placing a piece of plastic, such as from an ice cream pail lid, under the piece will help preserve the hammer marks on the first side. Optional: Leave the wire rounded for a thicker look to your bracelet.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 5
Form the half twist using the larger barrel of the medium bail making pliers or the largest step of the 6-step pliers. Grasp the "U" end of the wire between the jaws of the pliers. Notice that not much of the "U" is showing. Bend one wire end over the curve of the large barrel of the pliers. Flip the wire around and curve the other side around the large barrel so both sides have the same curve.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 6
Use a rawhide, rubber or plastic mallet to lightly hammer the half twist point down, making the piece even straighter and flatter. Optional: Instead of the rawhide, rubber or plastic mallet, use the ball end of a hammer to add a bit of texture to the top of the half twist. The wire may have been gripped hard enough in Step 3 to leave a divot so doing this will camouflage that.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 7
Make a size template on a 6" wide index card. Draw a line down the center. Measure out and mark from either side of center:

A finished SMALL cuff will be 5¼" long, so make marks 2-5/8" out on either side of the center line.

A finished MEDIUM/AVERAGE cuff will be 5-5/8" long, so mark 2-13/16" out on either side of the center line.

A finished LARGE cuff will be 6" long, so mark 3" out on either side of the center line.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 8
Hammer the wires on either side of center to flatten the wire. Texture with the ball side of the hammer. To determine how much to texture, place the center twist on the center line of the index card on the size line desired. Continue to hammer and texture until the length needed is achieved. Here, a bit more hammering will be needed to reach the size Medium length.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 9
Hammering may cause the wire ends to curve. Turn the bracelet on its side to texture the edges when the bracelet is close to the length needed. This will also help straighten the wire ends.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 10
Use a flat or dome hammer to flatten out the wire ends making a slight paddle shape. File and refine the wire ends so they are rounded and smooth.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 11
Use 2mm letter stamps to stamp a S. M. or L on the inside of one end of the cuff. To recreate the same size cuff at a later date, just look at the size stamped in the cuff. Words or names can be stamped inside the cuff. Use the internet to find the latitude and longitude of a place that holds special meaning to stamp inside the bracelet.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 12
Shape the cuff using a bracelet bending pliers. A rawhide or plastic mallet can also be used to shape the cuff on an oval bracelet mandrel.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Step 13
Optional: Patina the cuff. Tumble to further harden and polish the cuff.
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet
Judy Larson's Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, Interlocking Faux Twist Wire Bracelet