These fun copper wire beads are really easy to make. What makes them fun is that you can make them any size that you like. Large, small, wide and narrow, and no two come out exactly alike.
These copper beads will be great for jewelry designs when you need some beads with larger holes. Great for stringing on leather cord.
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To make these beads I cut my wire about 20 inches in length. Then I took a wooden dowel and started to wrap my wire around the dowel a few times.
Using my chain-nose pliers I pressed the end of the wire down onto the dowel.
Next I continued wrapping the copper wire around the dowel until I got the size of the wire wrapped bead that I wanted.
Once the copper wire bead is the size that I want, I then used the chain-nose pliers and press the wire down into the wire bead firmly, so it will not catch onto anything.
Now gently pull the copper bead off of the dowel. Now is the time to add a patina then tumble to work harden and polish.
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Supplies Needed
* Copper wire, I used 20 gauge Contenti is where I buy a lot of my copper wire
* Wood dowel, knitting needle
* Wire cutter
* Chain-nose pliers
That’s it for these easy copper wire beads. Do you make your own beads?
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Great tutorial Linda, thank you. I never realized they were this easy to make and I have soooo much jewelry wire in the craft cupboard, I’m going to have to start playing around
Thanks Michelle! I am sure you will come up with something wonderful. You are always coming up with something fun and creative.
Will the copper tarnish and get on clothes
I haven’t ever had that problem. A sealer can be added ever so often for protection if worried about that.
How do you add a patina to the copper?
Hi Susan! You can use liver of sulfur to add the patina. Just make sure your in a well ventilated area. Its pretty smelly.
This is just fabulous! perfect jewellery piece
Thank you! 🙂
It is not at all easy to make this type of Copper Wire Beads thank you for explaining it in a detailed way. Going to surely try this.
Thank you!