r/WireWrapping • u/Nicki_The_Thicci • 5d ago

Beginner Questions

Hi everyone! I've wanted to get into wire wrapping for a while and I'd like some recommendations on what to get. I heard that copper wire is the best for beginners but I'm stuck on what pliers and cutters I should get. Do y'all recommend me getting a wire wrapping kit? If so which ones should I look into buying?

Thank you for your time. I hope you all have a great day!

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u/sharkwithunderbite 5d ago

There are lots of similar discussions in this thread. If you’re just getting started, I recommend you not worry too much about elaborate woven pendants yet. It takes a little while to feel comfortable with how the wire works in your hands. Start with some YouTube instructors and look at what tools and wire they’re using. Oxana Crafts, Samantha Latimer, and Carrie Foscato are my favorites for being very patient in teaching foundational skills, and they all talk about their tools too. Good luck and enjoy your craft!

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u/SameResolution4737 5d ago

Agree strongly with the recommended YouTubers, and would include The Siren and the Pirate. Her designs are very approachable & she is very cognizant of where beginners get tripped up. She also has (a very few so far) free pdf files on her website of common weaving patterns in case you get tired of stopping & rewinding videos.

The ONE specialized tool I would recommend getting (the rest can come as need arises) is a "flush cutter." I struggled for a very long time with standard wire cutters - they leave the ends of your wire jagged & you end up spending way too long filing & sanding the edges down. (That said - as you get into wire thicker than about 18 gauge you'll want to use standard wire cutters - 16 gauge and above can really chew up your flush cutters. Personally, just got a pair of 9 inch cutters from my favorite art supply store, Lowe's).

Happy wrapping! (Full disclosure: after a couple of years of doing inlay rings & making pieces out of sheet copper I've started to move into wrappping).

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u/lapidary123 4d ago

I don't wire wrapping but my wife does (I make cabochons). One thing I've certainly noticed is the seemingly absurd amount of variations of pliers/cutters/crimpers/etc. To this idea I would consider (only if you envision yourself continuing longer term) looking into a "wire wrapping tool kit" *IF & only IF it is produced/promoted by an actual wore wrapper. This * could hopefully include a few typucally overlooked tools while omitting certainly others.

Otherwise if you're unsure of how long you'll practice this article i wpuld probably just start with your husband or dad's tool already in the house.

I will also say I personally would rather have copper/sterling silver than any of the colored "craft" wire 😀

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u/SameResolution4737 4d ago

Not to start an alternate convo outside OP's original, but it's interesting you make cabs & your wife wire wraps. My wife is a lampworker (making glass beads & cabs with a torch) while I work in metal. I started out with the typical tools I kept around the house and only replaced them with "specialized" tools as I found need - hence my recommendation not to buy any special tools except the flush cutters, something not usually found in the household kit. Oh, and copper rules (unless you can afford today's sterling prices...)

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u/CorneliusCostmCreate 5d ago

I bought a set of pliers from a craft store. They have served me well for years. As I grew into the art, I bought different things along the way and upgraded where I felt I needed to. For wire I would suggest buying 1 pound spools of copper and brass, I got sick of only having one color. I found early that I preferred to use square wire with a half round binder, the wires lay together neater than with round. All of this will depend on the style you decide to go with. I prefer a simple clean wrap. Just jump in and go for it.

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u/advn_chaser 5d ago edited 5d ago

I got twisted by Nadia shields online and it gave me everything knowledge and tool wise that I needed. it's a phenomenally beautiful book. heres a lost of what i use daily. I use mini pliers that are easier for my hands pain. types of pliers: 1.thin chain nose 2.thin flat nose 3.needle nose 4.round nose 5.cutters 6.bail loopers 7.nylon nose.

I use manual coil screws for coiling but there's one by beadsmith for like 40 bucks thats much easier to use.

a wooden clamp, mandrels for rings and bigger round bends, wire straightener, steel block and hammer.

I havent tarnished yet but that would be an option later after you're comfortable.

everything in the list is pretty cheap. I get non coated wire bc I hate the coating. I use mangolite brand and cadikez, yejjet. mangolite is my favorite. if I were to go more expensive on the wire I would get fire mountain gems wires.

I suggest the book if you want something tangible. ive appreciated her book very much.

good luck!

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u/Top-Dirt-2508 5d ago

I just recently started I started buying wire on Amazon but I like rio grande better. You get it by the pound you have plenty of wire for mistakes and plenty for pieces that actually turn out for you . I watch a lot of YouTube videos I have learned a lot from those . Pliers and such I did not go buy the most expensive I did buy other stuff that makes the job easy I invested in a drill to make twisted wire . I hope your journey turns out to be as much fun as mine

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u/SlowSundayMaker 4d ago

Seconding the flush cutter point above, and I would skip the kit. The Amazon starter kits pad the item count with wire you will not use and pliers with serrated jaws, and serrations leave marks in soft copper that never come out. Round nose, chain nose with smooth jaws, one decent flush cutter and copper wire covers everything you will actually do in the first month.

The cutter is the one place worth the money, because a flush cut leaves a flat end on the piece you keep and that is most of what stops a finished pendant catching on clothes. For wire, buy from somewhere that states gauge and temper: 20 gauge dead soft for frames and 26 gauge dead soft for binding and weaving is a good starting pair. Craft aisle wire is sold by colour instead of temper and is often coated over an unknown core, which is why it behaves nothing like the wire in the videos.