5 Forming Fundamentals to help you bend wire jewelry with confidence!
Whether you want to make matching dangles for earrings or jewelry with a consistent repetitive link, this is the secret for gaining control over forming wire.
Watch the free video tutorial below …
Wondering how to bend wire into shapes?
Here’s the inside scoop!
There are 5 basic techniques you can use to gain control of forming wire. Once you start using them, you’ll be able to make wire jewelry with intent. Whether you are forming components, findings, clasps, or even bezels, your command will improve with practice.
#1) Work on a perpendicular plane …
Always work on a perpendicular plane to the jaw of the pliers. This provides the most stable grasp and helps to keep your material from slipping in the pliers and causing tool marks.
#2) Isolate your pressure …
In most cases, you want to hold the wire as stable as possible when you are forming, so use your dominant hand to hold the pliers. Use your non-dominant hand to do the forming. So, if you are right-handed, hold the material in the grasp of pliers held with your right hand and set things up so the area you want to form is protruding on the left ready for your left hand to form.
I have seen many people pinch the wire (grasp it with their index finger and thumb at the same time) to form it. You may feel as though you have more strength with this approach, however the force being applied is not as clear, and you may be applying pressure in a manner you don’t realize, causing a variance in form. It’s much better to isolate your pressure to one source.
#3) Brace tool for added leverage …
Once you have isolated your pressure, you can add to your force by bracing the tool with opposing pressure. So, if you are forming with your thumb, brace the opposite side of the tool with your index finger to give you better leverage and add to the strength with which you are forming.
#4) Form close to the tool …
The placement of the pressure with which you are forming has a great impact upon the result. If you apply pressure right next to the tool as you form around it, you will yield a form more accurate to the shape of the tool. If your pressure is further away, even a half inch or so, you can cause a flex further up the wire and the curve will not be as form-fitted to the tool. It does require more force to form right at the tool, but the results are much more consistent.
#5) Look down the jaw while forming …
It may feel a bit awkward at first, but if you look down the jaw of the pliers as you are forming, you can watch to see how far you are bending the material. This affords you with the ability to stop or form more without having to adjust your view. Once you get used to this positioning, you can form more rapidly and with more accuracy. Please take note; it may be more comfortable for you to back up a bit from the table, so you won’t have to cock your wrists back as far.
Forming Fundamentals + Patterns = Great Jewelry Components!
When you pair solid forming fundamentals with targeted placement using a measuring chart you gain tremendous control over the material.
This formula is the secret to forming consistent jewelry components with ease. And it’s the foundation for my teaching here at Jewelry Classes with Jen.
Here’s the free video tutorial …
I describe these 5 forming fundamentals in action as I cover:
- forming precise right-angle bends,
- forming curves
- how to adjust your hold and pressures to form away from you with your thumb or towards you using your index finger
- why applying pressure close to the tool yields more accurate results
- fixing the planes after every bend
- how to form at marked increments
- forming a connection loop
- and most important – how to upgrade from forming wire doodles to following a measuring chart for predicted results
Want to learn more?
Gain insight into my philosophy and get a concise introduction to my Measuring Charts Made Easy system.
It’s the secret to creating consistent jewelry components with ease in 3 easy steps:
- Create cardstock measuring tools for each design element
- Use those measuring tools to draft a pattern to yield a specific component
- Follow the chart to form that component with consistent results
Looking for more insights on making jewelry with wire?
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