Assuming that you have decided to use phosphor bronze strings, these may be bought ready cut to the right length with the loops ready made, but the amateur harp maker should be able to make the loops himself. However on no account should the wire be twisted when the loops are being made or your strings will soon snap.

Make a winding device as used by spinet makers and described by Geoffrey Gilbert in the magazine "Woodworker" - see fig. 6.4.

fig. 6.4

The device is cramped to the bench. First, enlist a helper and ask him or her to hold one end of the wire firmly while the other end is passed over the loop of the winding device and gripped in a pair of pliers.

Pull both ends of the wire fairly tight and turn the handle 6 to 8 times (maximum), keeping the pair of pliers at a right angle to the length of wire, and allow the end piece to wind itself neatly round the string.

Clip off the surplus.

More: Stringing and tuning are dealt with in more detail in their own section, 6.