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The loop size will depend on how much wire you leave past the end of your beads, and around which part of your pliers you bend the loop. A good loop size is usually about 1/3 of the way from the tip of your pliers, with about 8mm of wire.
Use round needle-nose pliers.
If using an eye pin, decide which way you want the loop to go - the same direction as the premade loop on the other end, or 90º off. Keep this direction in mind as you bend the rest of the wire.
Cut off any excess wire (we suggest retaining 8mm above the top of your beads).
Grip the pin just above the top bead (at the arrow above), and bend the wire sharply toward you.
Grasp the tip of the wire with pliers, and bend smoothly away from you, around the pliers.
Wrapped Loops
Use chain-nose pliers to grasp the wire just above the top of the bead.
Use your fingers to bend the wire sharply over the top of the pliers, at a 90° angle. You should have 2-3mm of straight wire between the bead and the bend.
Use round-nose pliers to grasp a spot just above the bend, and use your fingers to smoothly bend the wire all the way around the tip of the pliers.
Now use pliers to grasp the wire firmly across the loop. Use your fingers or chain-nose pliers to carefully wrap the wire around the stem. For best control, experts recommend you break this step into a series of half wraps.
Trim excess with flush cutters.
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Silver Plated Ball End Head Pin, Thin, 2"
Best SellerStaff Choice
5 Reviews /
Avg Rating: 3 /10
2" (51mm) thin ball-end head pins. Approximately 0.02" diameter (24 gauge/0.5mm). Approximately 1.8mm ball end. Plated over brass. Silver plate is a thin surface layer of actual silver. Thin head pins are for small-hole beads. April 2014: We have upgraded these pins to a new, more flexible version. Great for wrapped loops!
I bought these and the first 2 I tried to use broke before I even got a loop made. They are total crap - going in the trash. I would give less than 1 star if I could. [R & T Reply: Hi Kelly, thank you for the review. We've notified the manufacturer, and they are sending replacements that we expect will be back to the normal quality. Because they are so thin and flexible (suitable for wire wrapping) they do have a tendency to be bent, but they should not be breaking. Sometimes they accidentally make a batch with thicker plating, and it causes this problem.]
Too thin and bendable
By hawaiibeads on 11/7/2016
These are much too flexible. Fine for something very short, and if you don't mind if they will not stay straight.
Don't buy
By Luna on 9/12/2016
Plating chips off with any working.
perfect for small holed beads
By Carol on 6/3/2014
These head pins were just what I needed,they were the 24 gauge wire as stated in the description which is thin and very flexible, perfect for beads with very small holes such as fresh water pearls and 15/0 seed beads. The wires flexibility was helpful when making tight coils for my bead dangles.
Bad Headpins
By hawaiibeads on 5/5/2014
These are very very poor quality. The wire is way too flexible to be useful for making anything with any length to it. Very bent wires, having ordered these in the past, I am truly disappointed that R&T put these out to their customers.
