Cages are fun to build and they allow you to use found objects or small items that you want to wear but can't quite find a connection. This cage is filled with three pieces of Roman Era glass that I was in love with but didn't have a perfect way to use. I love that they can move inside the cage. I think it would be great with loose crystals or chunky charms too. The biggest challenge is to make the cage so that your items don't fall out! Let your imagination roam, I'm sure that there are many ways to build a cage....
The first step is to decide what you want inside your cage and build the cage for it. I have done them with a top and a bottom....this one only has a top. Cut the top from a piece of sheet metal, here I have used 22 g. bronze. Texture if you want and then mark the holes and drill with a 1/16" drill bit. This will accommodate a 16 gauge wire.
I keep only a 1/16" and 1/8" drill bit on my work bench--saves me from drilling a hole the wrong size. All of the eyelets and nuts and screws we carry on our website require either of these sizes. Simplifying is worth it!
As you can see above right I filed and then actually rounded the raw end under a bit with my chain nose pliers. I like the way it looks and it eliminates a sharp edge.
Count the number of holes and make a headpin out of 16 gauge bronze wire. The length on this project is about 8 inches. After the headpin is made I heat the whole wire to darken. MAPP gas works very well for bronze. Insert them all through the holes in the top.
Carefully hammer each wire flat and if desired you can use a texture hammer on them too.
Oops I should have drilled a hole in the center of the top for a bail...thank heavens there is always a fix and I pulled out my always handy punch pliers.
Now that the wires are hammered out you can polish them up a bit to make them look nice. The mini polishing wheel is great to use on your flex shaft for this. It's easier to reach the backs of the wires now. I wanted it to be a bit "knarley" at the top so I randomly bent over some of the tops.
I used part of my dapping set to form the shape around. Something steel works best but anything handy can be used also!
Inset the bail wire and also the objects to be caged...
work the wires around until they lay nicely and hold in your objects. Hold the middle where you want your wrap to be and take one of the wires and wrap around to hold.
Futz with the ends and the wires so that the piece looks good then polish it up again. I like extra polishing on the wire wrap so it looks a bit worn or handled...
I took a pile of fibers including some sheer silk and wet them and twisted them around until they made a tight bundle. Let them dry overnight on a heater vent and then unfurl.
Take the top bail wire and wrap around the fibers. I like mine off center so that they tie on the side asymmetrically.
This piece is great on and really fun. You could make it large and hang it on a wall or from a light!
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