Horse hair how-to

In this video I will demonstrate my method of sculpting curly hair from copper wire for sculpture.

Skill level: beginner to intermediate

Safety: snipping fine gauge wire can cause bits to go flying. Always wear safety glasses and never trim wire in carpeted or upholstered areas as the tiny pieces of wire can become very painful splinters. Yes, they can.

Tools you will need:
sharp flush cut snips
1/8th inch wood dowel
A wooden ruler or some thing flat to wrap your wire around

Supplies you will need:
30 gauge copper wire
A wire sculpture frame/body

Description:
Start by preparing your ruler or other flat, hard surface to wrap your wire around. I use a wooden ruler with a pair of small copper strips taped on. A quilter's square will also work, so long as the surface is hard and will not catch the wire.

Wrap the wire around your ruler prongs at least 4 full wraps. Snip the wire loose from the spool and remove the wire from the ruler carefully so as to keep it straight. Twist about a half inch of each of the looped ends tightly together, this will prevent tangling and provide sort of a needle for weaving through the frame.

Pass the wire bundle at least twice through the frame and pull taught at roughly the midway point of the wire bundle. This will leave you with two hair bundles securely attached to the frame.

Starting at the twisted end of a hair bundle, wrap the wire around your dowel. I use wood because it "grabs" the wire making it easier to wrap. Roll the wire around stick down to the frame. Remove dowel.

Tease the hair bundles out to the approximate length you desire. Trim the twisted ends to free the individual strands. The hair can them be shaped and styled to the final desired product.

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