Twisting and cutting wire is best done with end cutting pincers, which have smaller heads than carpenter’s pincers so can be more easily rotated in the hand. Their sharp jaws are also better suited for cutting.
Wire loops are handy for tying together all sorts of things, ranging from wire mesh for chicken coops to garden trellis, animal enclosures, protective netting for fruit and vegetables, and fence panels.
Sometimes they are just used to connect things as a stopgap before a permanent fastening can be made.
For instance, if you’re putting up or extending a wire enclosure, you might tie the panels to the fence posts with wire first before using staples or brackets to attach them permanently.
Wire loops are also widely used to secure many types of produce including tomato plants, hops, vines, soft fruit and tall or climbing plants such as sweet peas, sunflowers and clematis.
Which wire is best?
Galvanised (zinc coated) steel wire of at least 3mm (⅛” approx) diameter is recommended for fencing and other heavy duty purposes. The coating will protect the wire from corrosion.
Softer, mild steel wire is better for horticultural use, preferably with a plastic coating so that delicate plant stems won’t be damaged.
Step 1 – Make wire loop
Cut the wire to the length you need, then loop it round the fence post, tomato plant stake, trellis, chicken coop mesh or whatever it is that you want to secure.
Step 2 – Grip wire
Bring both ends of the wire together and grip them firmly in the pincer jaws. Apply gentle pressure to keep the wire in place, but be careful not to press too hard.
Resting your index finger between the handles will help stop you squeezing too tightly and accidentally cutting through the wire.
Step 3 – Twist wire
Keeping the handles pressed together, turn the pincers round and round to twist the ends of the wire together. Again, just apply gentle pressure to avoid cutting the wire before you’re ready.
Step 4 – Cut wire ends
When the ends of the loop are secure, remove your finger from between the handles and squeeze firmly to cut through the wire ends. Use the pincers to bend the sharp ends of the wire out of the way to avoid any risk of injury.