I’ll introduce you to a special pair of pliers that makes the job easier, but also teach you how to use an everyday household object if you’re not quite ready to invest in a specialty jewelry making tool for the job. You’ll also learn two techniques for smoothing the ends of your lovely handmade earwires!
Full list of supplies and more tips after the video!
TOOLS AND MATERIALS:
• 3 to 4 inches of half hard round wire, 22 or 21 gauge
• ruler
• round nosed pliers
• chain nosed pliers
• flush cutters
• Wubber’s large bail making pliers OR a 1/4″ mandrel (wooden pencil, dowel rod, etc.*)
• wire rounder tool** OR metal file or nail file
Briolettes I used in this video are 5×7 mm Fire Opal CZs and can be purchased here.
NOTES:
* I don’t suggest using a pen or other plastic material because the metal will slip around like crazy and leave you very frustrated! Wood works well because it has just a bit of give (if you look closely, you’ll see my pencil has lots of grooves in it from making earwires) so that the metal gets a bit of ‘bite’ and doesn’t move so much while you’re trying to work with it. If you use a wooden pencil, make sure it is perfectly round for a nice smoothly curved earwire.
** Use a 1.8mm cup bur for wire gauges 16-21, or a 1.2mm cup bur for wire sized 22-26 gauge.
♦ For beginners, I recommend taking a look at How to Make Simple Wire Loops for help and trouble shooting with the loop-forming part of the tutorial, and How to Wire Wrap a Briolette will show you how I made the sweet little briolette drops used for this project.
Click to see more information and video demonstrations for the following tools:
Nice tutorial video on earwires. Easy to listen to speaking voice! Thanks
Thank you so much Molly! It’s a little strange hearing yourself on video so that’s something I definitely had to get used to. I really appreciate your kind words and you taking the time to comment :)
When you make your ear wire do you use 20 gauge half hard wire to make your matching ear wire video.
Hi Sandra!
Thanks for your question – for this technique 22 gauge is easier but it can also work for 20 gauge after you get the method down :)
~ Jess
I’m just starting out making jewellery and yours are the most straightforward easiest tutorials I have found! Thank you so much x
Is the 22 gauge wire aluminum or silver plated copper
Thanks for your question! I use half hard sterling silver or gold filled wire. Aluminum wire is going to be too soft for ear wires – they will bend out of shape too easily. It’s ok to use plated metals as long as they are half hard, but keep in mind that the plating will come off when you file the ends of the ear wire (you don’t want to skip this step because it’s pretty uncomfortable to put raw cut wire through your piercing!)
For more info about jewelry wire to explain hardness, etc: All About Jewelry Wire. This series has a lot of great info!
Hi! How do you make hoop wire earrings? Is the technique difficulty? Thanks!
Hi Cecile! Thanks for your question. It’s a little bit more involved than making ear wires but not very difficult. Here’s a video that shows you how to make them: https://jewelrytutorialhq.com/how-to-make-hoop-earrings/
Enjoy!
Jess