This works well if you don’t want to damage the insulation around the wire.

Your thumb will prevent the wire from slipping off the end and help make it straighter.

If you don’t need the full length of wire, straighten as much as you need before cutting the end with a pair of wire cutters.

If you have trouble gripping the wire, try holding onto it with a piece of paper towel. This might be enough to straighten really thin wires that you’d normally use for jewelry making.

This method works best for 22- to 26-gauge wires you’d use for making jewelry. Pliers can leave tool marks on the wire if you squeeze the handles too tightly. You can always snip the end of the wire off with wire cutters if you notice scratches or dents.

You can buy nylon jaw pliers from craft or hardware stores. Avoid using standard pliers since they could scratch or damage the wire.

Be careful not to squeeze the nylon jaw pliers too hard, or else you won’t be able to move it down the length of wire.

Working with a wire too much can make it brittle, so stop as soon as you have it straight.

You can skip this step if you want, but it will make it easier to grip the wire without it slipping.

If you don’t have a drill, you can also grip the end of the wire with a pair of locking pliers instead. [14] X Research source

If you don’t have a vise, try wrapping the end of the wire around something sturdy in your home, such as a doorknob.

This works for both insulated and uninsulated wires. Spinning the wire causes it to stretch slightly and forces it to straighten out.