Free Tutorial: Wire Heart Clasp

This tutorial will show you how to make the heart clasp from the infinity link bracelet project pictured above. This is a beginner level wire project, but it may take you a few tries to get the heart to be the size and shape you want.

Make several until you have the what you need for the project. Then hold on to the practice ones. You will always find a project that needs a little love, which is the perfect project to use the extra wire heart clasps.

The techniques used for the wire heart clasp are how to make an open wire loop,  how to smooth wire ends, and optionally, how to hammer and tumble your jewelry.  As part of this tutorial, you will learn to shape the wire with your round nose pliers or stepped mandrel pliers.

You will need the following tools and supplies. 

• 18 gauge round wire
• Round nose pliers or stepped mandrel pliers
• Wire cutters
• File or emery board

These are optional if you want to hammer and tumble to finish the clasp:

• Steel bench block
• Jeweler's hammer
• Rotary jewelry tumbler with stainless steel shot

**Making a purchase using the links above may result in a small commission for me at no cost to you.

1.  Cut a piece of wire for your heart clasp and file the ends smooth using the emery board or file.

Each of these clasps use about 2.5 inches or 65 mm of 18 gauge copper wire.  Using a longer piece of wire and trimming the excess may be easier when you first learn how to make this project. The wire length will also determine the finished size of the heart clasp.  The clasp dimensions are about 15 mm x 15 mm or 5/8 x 5/8 inches. 

If you are making a larger clasp, you may need to use 16g wire.  It will be harder to form the heart shape, but the thicker wire will help make a clasp that will not bend out of shape.

I like to use ParaWire copper based craft wire that comes in a variety of colors. The link is to an article about ParaWire.

2.   Grasp your wire in the middle with your round nose pliers.  You can just eyeball it - but you can measure it if you want. It seems the wire heart comes out a little off center no matter what - but that gives it handmade charm.

3.  Bend the wire ends towards each other around the tip of the round nose pliers to make a U shape.

4.  Continue wrapping one wire around the pliers until you have crossed the wires and formed a loop.  The crossed wires make a little more than a right angle.  

This is the top of the heart, so you want to make sure there is a V formed by the crossed wires. If you push the wires so they are straight, the top of your heart will be flat.

5.  Grasp one side of the wire with the thickest part of your round nose pliers right next to the loop.  You are going to start to gently bend the wire over the barrel to make the top curve of the heart.  You can also use mandrel pliers for this step.

6.  Curve the wire a little at a time, then slide the pliers further away from the center loop and keep bending slightly until you have a gentle curve.  

If you wrap the wire tightly around the barrel, the curve will be too sharp.  It is easier to make little adjustments and this helps create a smooth curve.

7.  Once you have half of the heart formed, repeat the same process with the other wire.  Make gently bends around the round nose pliers to form the other half of the heart.

8.  Ta da... It's getting there!

9.  Continue to make adjustments until you have a heart shape.  Try to join the wires so one wire is slightly longer than the other.  The longer wire is where you make the loop to join the clasp to the jewelry.

10.  Using your round nose pliers, turn a simple loop on the longer end of the wire.

11.  Bend out the other end of the wire ever so slightly to form a catch.  This will help guide the jump ring into the clasp when it is part of jewelry. Use emery board nail files and buffers to smooth the wire end.

A final step is to tidy up the shape of you clasp.

I use these Three Step Wire Looping Round Nose Pliers 5mm, 7mm, 10mm.  They have a small  jaw that fits perfectly to help smooth the round shape at the top of the heart.

If you don't have pliers like this, you can use any stiff round item of similar size, like the top of a pen.

12.  Your clasp is done!  But it may not be ready to use yet...  

To strengthen the clasp, the wire may need to be work hardened.  You can do that by lightly hammering the wire on a bench block or anvil or by putting the clasp in a tumbler with stainless steel shot. Sometimes the wire hardens enough from the process of bending it, but the light hammering can be decorative as well as hardening.

Now add your clasp to something fabulous!  In this case, it's the infinity link chain I made the other day.

Are you looking for more wire heart themed jewelry making projects?  Try these:
How to Make a Heart Shape Wire Frame for Beading or Wire Wrapping
Make Four Heart Shaped Beading Frames at Once
Heart Shaped Bead and Wire Jewelry Design DIY
DIY Beaded Wire Heart Necklace

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