laceedge wire wrap tut by ITS -So Easy I Can Do It
Jun 28, 2012 10:01:26 GMT -5
itsandbits and tims like this
Post by itsandbits on Jun 28, 2012 10:01:26 GMT -5
7/28/2017 - ADMIN EDIT - fixed all broken attachment thumbnails, consolidated posts and embedded the images.
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These are the tools you'll need. If you need to, a vise to hold the stiff wire that the wrapping is done on; that I'll call a mandrel, can be used.
A nice thing with this is that you can use an endless length of wire and cut it off when you reach the desired length of border plus a little extra straight wire on both ends for embellishments.
Your choice of material to use is only limited by your credit card, your imagination, and what is available!!
Thanks for looking, I hope you try this and enjoy the endless variety you can bring to it by all the little things that can be changed and still be the same thing.
you'll notice that each loop is on opposite sides of the wire "mandrell". This gap between the loops is where the bevel will fit so if you are going to fit a large bevel, use a larger diameter mandrel. You can use anything you want as a mandrel for size; a nail would work just fine as long as you can hold onto it securely enough to bend the wire. I am using a 1mm enamel coated copper wire. The mandrel is a 14g house electrical wire with the insulation stripped off. I use it for the frame; the wire that replaces the mandrel when you set the stone, also if I want. Any wire that will fit through the mandrel hole and you are able to bend to fit your stone will do; get inventive!
Going along nicely back and forth from one side of the mandrel to the other. As you are going over the "form"; the peice you are pulling the loop over before wrapping it back on the mandrel, you may get a slight twist or a little more spread where the stone is going to fit, but you can give the form a little twist to the side and straighten it out later or if you notice, now would be a good time.
once you get along a little ways it may be easier for you to slip some of the finished lace edge off the mandrel and reinsert the mandrel in the working portion so the mandrel doesn't have to be too long. At this point I will say; for you that cannot hold the manrel, no problem, a vise works great and can be one of the ones that can be clamped to a table edge, or a vise grip clamping the mandrel to something.
as you can see, even using the heavy 14g wire as the border, the laceedge can easily be bent to fit most stones
This is a contrasting colour coated copper wire about 1 1/2mm, as I said before; use whatever is pleasing to your eye and the finished peice.
The laceedge should fit any stone you have by varying the size of the mandrel and the form. These can be whatever materials you have at hand to do the job, silver, gold or any other wire of formable material will do, mix them up, and have fun. Change the size of the loops as you go, wrap the wire around the mandrel for a ways to space the loops or even string a long bead on as a spacer and enhancement.
another example
This stone has the standard bevel and would set quite well in this size loop but by using different size forms for the loops you can vary the size for more a more or less delicate look.
closeup of the finished weave. You will notice that some of the loops are closer or further away from each other than others but this is easily adjusted as you are putting it on your stone for symmetry. You may want to stretch it all out or even bunch them up close together but because the loops are all formed on a mandrel, they will all be one size; which you could vary as you go along too for a different effect; try using more than one form as you are making the loops.
and from the back or outside. As you are going along, beads or anything you wish could be strung on the loops, and the finished loops could be a starter for a "crochet" or chain mail; endless possibilities. In between loops if you wish you could simply wrap the wire around the mandrel and then start looping again; as I say " endless possibilities.
If you have any comments or suggestions, thank you for waiting till I had this "done?"
Feel free to make any changes to the different sizes of mandrel or wires used and the form used for the loops and the way they are positioned can be endlessly varied as well, whatever your skill level or you can work with is "fair game"
Lloyd
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These are the tools you'll need. If you need to, a vise to hold the stiff wire that the wrapping is done on; that I'll call a mandrel, can be used.
A nice thing with this is that you can use an endless length of wire and cut it off when you reach the desired length of border plus a little extra straight wire on both ends for embellishments.
Your choice of material to use is only limited by your credit card, your imagination, and what is available!!
Thanks for looking, I hope you try this and enjoy the endless variety you can bring to it by all the little things that can be changed and still be the same thing.
you'll notice that each loop is on opposite sides of the wire "mandrell". This gap between the loops is where the bevel will fit so if you are going to fit a large bevel, use a larger diameter mandrel. You can use anything you want as a mandrel for size; a nail would work just fine as long as you can hold onto it securely enough to bend the wire. I am using a 1mm enamel coated copper wire. The mandrel is a 14g house electrical wire with the insulation stripped off. I use it for the frame; the wire that replaces the mandrel when you set the stone, also if I want. Any wire that will fit through the mandrel hole and you are able to bend to fit your stone will do; get inventive!
Going along nicely back and forth from one side of the mandrel to the other. As you are going over the "form"; the peice you are pulling the loop over before wrapping it back on the mandrel, you may get a slight twist or a little more spread where the stone is going to fit, but you can give the form a little twist to the side and straighten it out later or if you notice, now would be a good time.
once you get along a little ways it may be easier for you to slip some of the finished lace edge off the mandrel and reinsert the mandrel in the working portion so the mandrel doesn't have to be too long. At this point I will say; for you that cannot hold the manrel, no problem, a vise works great and can be one of the ones that can be clamped to a table edge, or a vise grip clamping the mandrel to something.
as you can see, even using the heavy 14g wire as the border, the laceedge can easily be bent to fit most stones
This is a contrasting colour coated copper wire about 1 1/2mm, as I said before; use whatever is pleasing to your eye and the finished peice.
The laceedge should fit any stone you have by varying the size of the mandrel and the form. These can be whatever materials you have at hand to do the job, silver, gold or any other wire of formable material will do, mix them up, and have fun. Change the size of the loops as you go, wrap the wire around the mandrel for a ways to space the loops or even string a long bead on as a spacer and enhancement.
another example
This stone has the standard bevel and would set quite well in this size loop but by using different size forms for the loops you can vary the size for more a more or less delicate look.
closeup of the finished weave. You will notice that some of the loops are closer or further away from each other than others but this is easily adjusted as you are putting it on your stone for symmetry. You may want to stretch it all out or even bunch them up close together but because the loops are all formed on a mandrel, they will all be one size; which you could vary as you go along too for a different effect; try using more than one form as you are making the loops.
and from the back or outside. As you are going along, beads or anything you wish could be strung on the loops, and the finished loops could be a starter for a "crochet" or chain mail; endless possibilities. In between loops if you wish you could simply wrap the wire around the mandrel and then start looping again; as I say " endless possibilities.
If you have any comments or suggestions, thank you for waiting till I had this "done?"
Feel free to make any changes to the different sizes of mandrel or wires used and the form used for the loops and the way they are positioned can be endlessly varied as well, whatever your skill level or you can work with is "fair game"
Lloyd
That is exactly what I thought when I thought of it! I wouldn't mind seeing how anyone elses look; some "spruced up" versions, or has anyone got any pictures of how yours turned out? Or any tricks to make it look better/different? 
