Where can I buy wire twisters?

[Pink Giraffe]

Hi, I am looking for a pair of wire twisters.
I have googled them and most of the ones I found look more like something an electrician would use!

Does anyone know if there are such things as crafters wire twisters?

I want to be able to thread a bead onto the wire and then double it over and twist it. Hope this makes sense.

Thanks

[Squiggly Sue]

Hi,
I was at hobby craft lastnight and I spotted a pair, so yes there is such things as wire twisters :). I dont know of any other suppliers though.
Sue

[Pink Giraffe]

Great, that sounds promising. I will go and have a look in there tomorrow.
I wish I had a hobbycraft nearer :(

[Dizzydiza]

I've never heard of wire twisters. To do what you are asking Pink I just use my set of pliers. Thread my bead on to a wire, bend the wire back on it self, holding the 2 ends of wire with the pliers I then use the end with the bead to twist the wire.
I have what is called a Pin Vise(looks like a drill end bit) that I use to twist square wire to give it a filigree look..... I am wondering if it is possible to place the 2 ends of round wire into it and roll it the same way as I would square wire....this might make twisting the wire easier but I havent tried it as I think it would be fiddly trying to get to ends of round wire into it.
But I would be interested to see what round wire twisters look like.
Di :)

[woodtattoos]

Perhaps this hint from my Uni days will help?

We used to put the two ends of the wire in a vice and pull out the looped end. You then insert an L-shaped sturdy piece of metal into a hand drill (an Allen key can be used if necessary, or make your own 'bit' from some hard metal). Put the L-shape into the loop, pull it out until the wire is taut and twist the hand drill handle as if drilling. If you keep the tension nice, you will get a very neat and tight twist. You can even combine several different wires in this way. If I get a chance, I'll dig out some of my old twist experiments and scan them in so I can post the results.

Si.

[Pink Giraffe]

Thank you for the help. I bought exactly what I needed from Hobbycraft. It was £9.95 which seemed a bit steep, but I realised it was well worth it when I started having a go.
I have a vice on my workbench. I clamp a hook into it (like the sort you screw into walls to hang curtain tie backs on).
Then i thread one end of my wire into the wire twister, thread onto the wire whatever beads I choose, then I thread the other end of the wire through the wire twister, hoop the beaded end over the hook and then twirl the wire twister.
It sounds like quite a long process, but it really is quick once I got the hang of it.
I mentioned the drill idea to my other half and he gave me one of those looks that said: "No way are you getting your hands on my man tools!"
Anyway, I'm really pleased with it. I will try and upload a picture I took of my first creation.

It looks like I can't upload a picture until I have made more than 25 posts. I will try and remember to come back and do it.

Thanks again!

[woodtattoos]

Glad you found what you needed. The process sounds exactly the same as what I used to do with the hand drill.

Si.

[Scorch]

Mmm, I've done that with a market-stall hand-drill too... :)