Wire Jewelry Component & Swan Hook

Skill Level: All

For small items you make repeatedly, you can save yourself a lot of time if you keep a wire template for each item on hand.

For example, you will make ear wires quite often. Keep a wire the length you first cut it, with only one flush cut end. Also cut a finished wire with both ends flush cut. Put them in a small labeled pill bottle or in a small plastic bag along with a note with pertinent information.

The following hook may be a component you might make often. You may find it helpful to have the hook in several stages of construction and in different wire gauges available to you for comparison when making a new hook.

You may want a wire length, Step 1, a scrolled piece, Step 3, a bent over piece, Step 5, and an finished hook to use as step templates. Another option is to make one of each step, and then photocopy those pieces together so you can use your copy as a template.

Swan Hook Pattern

Materials:

• 4 1/2 " of 18 gauge round wire
  Hint for a more rustic look: If you use 16 gauge wire to make the hook, you can more easily texture the component with the ball end of your chasing hammer or with a texture hammer.

Tools:

• Round or chain nose pliers
• Flat nose pliers
• Soft jaw pliers
• Flush cutter
• 1/4" mandrel
• Optional: Bench block and chasing hammer

Instructions:

1. Straighten and cut a 4 1/2" piece of 18 gauge round wire.
2. On one end of the wire, make a slightly more than full circle with the tip of a round nose pliers. Hint: You may find it easier to use chain nose pliers to start the center of the spiral.
   
3. Using soft jaw pliers, tightly scroll the wire until the scroll is 2" from the end of the wire.
4. Place the tips of the round nose pliers as close to the scroll as possible, as shown. Bend the wire over the plier tips and up the side of the scroll.
   
5. Switch back to the soft jaw pliers and finish bending the wire up over the top of the scroll as shown, left.
   
   
6. Bend the wire tail around the 3/8" mandrel as shown, right
   
7. Use the tip of round or chain nose pliers and make half a curl. Use flat nose pliers to press the curl flat down to the wire.
   
   
   
8. Lightly hammer the top curve of the hook and the lower "V" to work harden the component.
   
   Congratulations! You've made your first Swan Hook component.

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