How to Make a 5 Inch Open Spider Web for Action Figures

Finished 5 inch open style wire spider web held up to the camera

This is the exact process I use to make the 5 inch open style webs you see in my figure photography and my custom orders. One length of jewelry wire, four basic tools, and about ten minutes once you get the rhythm down.

This guide covers the open web. I make a few other web styles too, and each one will get its own guide, so this is part one of the series.

Prefer a printable version? There is a free PDF of this whole guide at the bottom of the post.

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What you need

Four things off the bench, and every one of them is shown here exactly as it appears in the video.

Anezus 20 gauge (0.8 mm) jewelry wire, one of the tools used to make the wire spider web — **Anezus 20 gauge (0.8 mm) jewelry wire**
This is the wire I use on every web. One spool lasts a very long time.

Wire cutters, one of the tools used to make the wire spider web — **Wire cutters**
Any small flush cutter works. These are the ones I keep on the bench.

A 12 inch ruler, one of the tools used to make the wire spider web — **A 12 inch ruler**
You measure and loop the wire around it, so a flat ruler beats a tape measure here.

A pencil, one of the tools used to make the wire spider web — **A pencil**
The web gets built around it. Any standard pencil from the junk drawer is perfect.

Jewelry pliers and cutters kit (optional): If you want every tool in one shot, this kit covers the cutters plus pliers for tucking in stray ends.

How to make the 5 inch open web

Step 1: Measure out 7 inches

Grab the wire and the ruler. The finished web is 5 inches, but the twisting eats up length. My rule of thumb is to go 2 inches above the final size, so measure to the 7 inch mark.

Step 1 of the wire spider web tutorial: Measure out 7 inches

Step 2: Loop it around the ruler and cut

Loop the wire around the ruler and cut at the 7 inch mark. Because the wire is looped, you end up with a doubled 7 inch length.

Step 2 of the wire spider web tutorial: Loop it around the ruler and cut

Step 3: Grab the pencil

A pencil is the best base I have found for a 1/12 or 1/10 figure hand. The loop it creates ends up gripping a figure hand just right.

Step 3 of the wire spider web tutorial: Grab the pencil

Step 4: Loop the wire around the pencil and pinch

Take your looped wire, wrap it around the pencil, and pinch it where the wires cross. That pinch point is where the web will go around the hand.

Step 4 of the wire spider web tutorial: Loop the wire around the pencil and pinch

Step 5: Twist the stem

Hold the pinch and start twisting the wire around itself. This builds the twisted stem of the web.

Step 5 of the wire spider web tutorial: Twist the stem

Step 6: Stop at the open V

Stop twisting when you have about a quarter of open wire left at the top, opening up into a V. Those are your first two prongs.

Step 6 of the wire spider web tutorial: Stop at the open V

Step 7: Hook and pinch

Take the loose wire, loop it into the loop, and pinch it closed. You now have a hook.

Step 7 of the wire spider web tutorial: Hook and pinch

Step 8: Wrap the hook

Wrap the tail around the hook so that bare portion of wire is covered. No shiny joints showing.

Step 8 of the wire spider web tutorial: Wrap the hook

Step 9: Knot your way up

From there, work upward and make knots in the web as you go. Just keep wrapping around.

Step 9 of the wire spider web tutorial: Knot your way up

Step 10: Bigger loops back down

Once you reach the top, go back down in bigger loops, then come back up the same way. This is what creates the open web look.

Step 10 of the wire spider web tutorial: Bigger loops back down

Step 11: Cut a third prong

Cut a fresh length of wire for the third prong.

Step 11 of the wire spider web tutorial: Cut a third prong

Step 12: Attach it the same way

Same move as before: hook it into the web, loop it around, and pinch it tight.

Step 12 of the wire spider web tutorial: Attach it the same way

Step 13: Weave over, under

Now the fun part. Keep the three prongs separated and go around each one. Over, under, over, under.

Step 13 of the wire spider web tutorial: Weave over, under

Step 14: Use your thumb as the guide

Press your thumb into the wire to hold the shape, then pass under the next prong. Your thumb keeps the spacing even.

Step 14 of the wire spider web tutorial: Use your thumb as the guide

Step 15: Close down the open wire

Take the open portion of wire, close it down onto the web, and pinch it in place.

Step 15 of the wire spider web tutorial: Close down the open wire

Step 16: Wrap and cut

Wrap it around that wire all the way, then take the cutters and cut both loose ends.

Step 16 of the wire spider web tutorial: Wrap and cut

Step 17: Done. Check the size

The open web is basically done. Hold it against the ruler and it should land right around 5 inches.

Step 17 of the wire spider web tutorial: Done. Check the size

That is the full build. If your first one looks a little rough, that is normal. The knots and spacing smooth out fast, usually by the second or third web.

In the next guide I will go over how I paint them, from primer to the finished color. After that we will work through the other web styles, so keep an eye on the How-To section.

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