This weeks jewelry technique is a review of the technique for cutting wire. We frequently get asked questions over the telephone about how to remove sharp ends from wire. In general, we don't have problems with sharp ends of wire for several reasons. First, we use a good "Flush Cutter" that is sharp.
Second, we always orientate the cutter so that the flat side of the cut is on the finished jewelry component. When a sharp flush cutter cuts wire, one side of the cut wire will be pointed or sharp and the opposite side of the cut wire will be "flush" -- flat and/or dull. By orienting your cutter properly you can ensure that your finished wire component will have blunt or flush cut ends while the sharp ends of the cut wire end up in your trash can.

Third, in most wire jewelry components that we make, we leave the end of the wire hidden within the piece. Many pieces begin and end with a loop. In a loop you can not see the cut end of the wire because it is resting against the wire itself and effectively hidden. In some other pieces, the end of the is wire is wrapped around the wire itself and is tucked into this wrapped wire by squeezing the end with chain nose pliers or bent chain nose pliers.

The one exception to the above is when you are making ear wires. When making pierced ear, ear wires, the end of the must be exposed so that it can be worn. In this case, a tool called the cup bur is used to round the end of the cut wire. Even for ear wires, you cut the wire so that the blunt side of the cut wire is left on the ear wire. Then you round the sides of this wire by using the cup bur tool. Instructions for using the cup bur can be found here.