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How to Make Wire Scorpions

Scorpions are scaly, have pincers and a tail with a sharp stinger. Metal wire is hard and its cut points are sharp so it makes sense to mold a scorpion out of wire. The wire can be molded into a fierce hardy body and the cut ends will act as reminders to the senses of the scorpion’s ability to pinch and sting. Metal wire scorpions are sold in stores, but you can make your own decorative wire scorpion at home.

Things You'll Need

  • Ruler
  • Wire snips
  • 84 inches of 20-gauge wire
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use a ruler and wire snips to cut 12 pieces of 20 gauge wire 7 inches long. Separate the pieces into two groups; one group of four and another of eight.

    • 2

      Bend the group of eight wires into a tight centered. Take the wires one-by-one and twist in the approximate center by bending the right end of the wire 360 degrees clockwise over the left end to form a loop in the shape of a costume mustache.

    • 3

      Pick up the group of four wires and pack them in a tight, straight line. Thread the four wires through each of the eight looped wires. Gather the looped wires in the approximate center of the four-wire bundle and tighten the eye-loops with your fingers.

    • 4

      Braid the eight looped wires around the four-wire bundle. Hold the assembly in front of you like a cross, with the eight wires horizontal. Take the top-right horizontal wire and bend it across and down over the center. Loop it behind the four-wire bundle at the bottom of the left horizontal wires. Pull it tight so it is now the bottom right wire.

    • 5

      Repeat Step 4 with the top left wire, then the top right. Repeat this process until the horizontal wires have lost about half their length. You've created the body of the scorpion.

    • 6

      Twist eight legs into the sides of the body. Start with the two horizontal wires on the bottom right; twist them together from the base to the tip. Repeat this process on the bottom left two wires, then move back to the next two wires up on the right. Continue this until you have four twisted legs on each side.

    • 7

      Separate four-wire bundle on the top of the cross into two separate two wire arms. Twist the arms together from the base until about half way up the wires.

    • 8

      Braid the tail. Separate one of the four wires from the bundle and twist it around the other three, up the tail, until you can't twist the wire any longer. Repeat this process; separate one of the three wires, twist it up the tail until you can't twist any longer.

    • 9

      Use wire snips to cut the legs in half. Cut the single wire claws in half.

    • 10

      Bend the legs straight up from the body. Bend the ends back down, folding the legs in the middle to create an upside down "V" shape. Repeat this process with the arms. Bend the claws up so they are parallel with the ground. Bend the single wire claws into mirror image "V" shapes with your fingers.

    • 11

      Bend the tail into an arch over the body of the scorpion. Straighten the two-wire section as a stinger.

Sculpture

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