How to choose the right wire for jewelry making?
Wire Shapes
- Round. Round wire is the one you will see in most jewelry designs. ...
- Half Round. Half-round or semi-circular wire is often used to create connections with square wire. ...
- Square. Square wire is used to create a slightly different aesthetic for the jewelry. ...
- Twisted. ...
What are the best tools for making jewelry?
The jewelry making tasks you'll use round nose pliers for are:
- making loops at the top of earring wires which you will connect earring hooks onto
- as a second tool to assist with making nice, consistently sized loops when finishing bead wire bracelets and necklaces
- making wire loops when connecting beaded chain (think of a rosary necklace and the connecting beads)
What is the best wire gauge for jewelry?
Wire Gauge
- High Gauge (24-32) High gauge wire covers everything from 24 gauge upwards. ...
- Medium Gauge (18-22) Medium gauge wire ranges from 18-22 gauge. ...
- Low Gauge (12-16) Low gauge wire is perhaps the type of wire you are most familiar with, as it is usually used for the most decorative of jewelry pieces, due ...
Which is the best wood for jewelry?
Why Balsa Wood is the Best Wood for Making Jewellery?
- Easy-to-Cut. Balsa wood is least dense amongst other wood types which makes it easy for woodworkers to cut wood easily with manual tools and thereby get those fancy wood ...
- Easy Wood Carving. Wood carving is a very popular art that can be done manually using carving knife, chisel or machines like dremel.
- Economical Wood. ...
- Light-weighted. ...
What gauge wire is used for jewelry making?
Use 30-gauge or 28-gauge (0.25 to 0.32 mm) wire for delicate jewelry making. It is great for wire weaving, rings, bead work and making small chains. Use fine jewelry making tools for this gauge. Use 26-gauge (0.40 mm) to wrap beads and make smaller chain loops.
What do you need to make wire jewelry?
Basic Wire Wrapping SuppliesRuler.Wire Cutters.Permanent Marker.Jewelry Making Pliers: Round, bent nose and chain (use these to tuck in wire ends and shape your wire)Gauge (measures the inside of holes for beads and the width of the wire for gauging)Needle Nose Flat File (for filing the wire ends)More items...•
Can You Use craft wire for jewelry?
Darice offers another good all-purpose craft wire that is made of silver-plated copper. This 20-gauge wire can be bent with ease to make jewelry and ornaments, with a medium-hard structure that holds angles and knots well.
What wire will not tarnish?
Non-Tarnish Jewelry Wire is the perfect gold alternative. ParaWire takes 99% pure copper wire and coats it with an exclusive non tarnish coating and a lovely finish. This wire is great for jewelry making and other craft projects!
Is copper wire good for jewelry?
Because of its durability, copper is an excellent metal used for jewelry making. Also, the metal does not rust easily.
Does artistic wire tarnish?
Artistic Wire is an enamel-coated copper wire available in a wide variety of colors, which is available by gauge. It is tarnish resistant and can be used for wire wrapping.
Can you use floral wire to make jewelry?
Materials and technique Varito likes the flexibility of Oasis' decorative wire when creating his jewelry forms. “I use a lot of Oasis wire products including flat wire, metallic wire, bouillon, etched, diamond, bead, mega and aluminum wires and I am experimenting with floral mesh,” he says.
What type of wire is used for beading?
Small, lightweight beads, such as sterling silver beads and Bali beads, work well with . 010-0.15-inch wire. Light to medium crystal and stone beads work well with medium diameter 0.15-0.21-inch wire. Heavy beads are best with heavier 0.24-0.36-inch wire.
What kind of wire is used for wire wrapping jewelry?
Craft Wire or Artistic Wire Craft wire and artistic wire are used interchangeably – “Artistic Wire” is a brand name. It's available in a variety of colors & gauges, and is perfect for making wire-wrapped jewelry because it's dead soft (see below for more info on Wire Hardness).
What type of wire is used for beading?
Small, lightweight beads, such as sterling silver beads and Bali beads, work well with . 010-0.15-inch wire. Light to medium crystal and stone beads work well with medium diameter 0.15-0.21-inch wire. Heavy beads are best with heavier 0.24-0.36-inch wire.
How do you start a wire necklace?
22:3927:37diy wire jewelry ideas (for beginners) bracelets, necklaces, and flower ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the first thing you're going to do is bend the wire in half around the thicker end of the roundMoreSo the first thing you're going to do is bend the wire in half around the thicker end of the round nose pliers.
What is the best gauge copper sheet for jewelry?
16 Mil/ 26 Gauge Copper: 16 Mil This is a good thickness for sculptures, assemblages, and art jewelry.
What gauge wire is used for making necklaces?
18-gauge. Measures 0.040 inches or 1.02 millimeters in diameter and it is a very strong wire. It works well for making all types of hooks and clasps and for wire wrapping beads with large holes. It is used often when making ornate bracelets and when creating wire collars and heavier neck pieces. 16-gauge.
What gauge wire is used for neck wire?
16-gauge. This is a thicker wire that measures 0.051 inches or 1.29 millimeters in diameter. It can be used to make neck wires, freeform rings, bracelets and bracelet bases. 14-gauge. Probably the heaviest wire most wire artists will use, its diameter measures .0641 inches or 1.63 millimeters.
What is the AWG in wire drawing?
In North America, the size of the holes in a wire-drawing die is based on a geometric formula developed in 1855 by the machine-tool company, Brown and Sharpe. This progression of 39 sizes is known as the American Wire Gauge (AWG). All of the wire stocked by Wire-Sculpture is labeled using the AWG.
How does wire gauge work?
However, wire gauges actually work in reverse: “ the larger the number, the smaller the wire .”. This is because all jewelry wire sizes begin at the number 0, and each time the wire is passed through a drawing die, it becomes smaller.
What is the diameter of 24 gauge wire?
The diameter of 24-gauge wire measures 0.020 inches or 0.51 millimeters. In a round shape, it can be used more aggressively in the same manners as the 26-gauge above, and in a square shape 24-gauge can be used to make frames and wire settings for smaller cabochons and faceted stones.
What is 20 gauge wire used for?
In a round shape, 20-gauge wire is good for clasps, double wrapped hooks, head pins, ear wires and many other handcrafted components. The square 20-gauge wire is most often used to make heavier jewelry such as bracelets and rings for men , as well as to create neck collars for women. 18-gauge.
How big is 21 gauge wire?
Slightly larger than the 22-gauge, the diameter of 21-gauge wire measures 0.0285 inches or .723 millimeters. In a square shape, this small difference in size will match 21-gauge wire with the thickness of several pattern wires, so that they may be used together in bracelet and pendant designs.
What is 20 gauge wire good for?
20 gauge wire is also good for a variety of other delicate handcrafted findings, like links or looped chandelier earring components. It can be shaped by hand and with the use of regular jewelry making tools.
Why use dead soft wire?
The benefit to using dead soft wire would be if you are making intricate shapes with the wire before hammering it, so that it’s easier to bend into those shapes. If not, save yourself the trouble and go with half hard :)
Can you use small wires for open loop links?
These small wires are not suitable as structure wires (to wrap other wire around), nor should they be used for open loop links. Use regular or fine tipped jewelry making tools to shape and cut.
Can 24 gauge wire be used for open link chains?
24 gauge wire is not recommended for open link chains in most cases. It can be used as a frame to wrap smaller wire around in some applications* – like earrings, when the finished piece is not structural. It can be shaped by hand and with the use of regular jewelry making tools. Shop 24 gauge jewelry wire.
Wire Shapes
The shape of a wire refers to what you see when you look at a cross section of it (i.e. the cut end).
Wire Metals
You have many choices regarding what metals your jewelry making wire is made of, including sterling silver, fine silver, gold-filled, copper, brass, nickel silver, 316L stainless steel and more.. Options include solid metal wire, filled (overlay) wire, plated wire, enamel-coated colored wire, and anodized wire.
What metals are used for jewelry?
These are good options when you are still learning to work with wire. Popular precious metal jewelry wire materials include sterling silver, gold, and gold-filled (an alloy with a gold coating).
What is wire used for?
Wire is used to make chains and findings for many types of jewelry. The strength, flexibility, and natural beauty of wire also makes it perfect for creating beautiful embellishments on beaded jewelry or pendants. Some artfully wrapped or woven wire can also stand alone as an elegant piece.
How to tighten a wire wrap?
You can tighten the wrap by gently squeezing it at the top and bottom with your chain-nose pliers or your fingernails. This technique is easiest to do when you already have a bead on the wire. Grip the wire just above the bead when you make your 90° bend.
How to get a wire to go through a pliers?
Pinch the end of the wire with your round-nosed pliers. Gently grasp the very end of the wire between the ends of your pliers. The wire should be flush with the pliers, so that you can't see the end extending beyond the pliers when you look at them in profile.
How to make a loop with a wire cutter?
The flat (flush) edge of the wire clippers should face the length of wire you will be working with (rather than the end you are snipping off). You will be using this flat end of the wire to make your loop.
What tools are used to make sharp angles in wire?
Other useful tools include bent-nosed pliers for fine detail work and flat-edged pliers for making sharp angles in your wire.
What is memory wire used for?
Memory wire retains its coiled shape, so it's great for making simple beaded bracelets or chokers.
How to choose a memory wire bracelet size?
There are 2 factors in choosing bracelet size—wrist size and bead size . Memory wire acts like a spring to be flexible and fit a broad range of sizes. Many people are comfortable with the medium size. Those with smaller wrists and hands can now choose the small size for a tighter fit, and those who find that memory wire designs are usually too tight can use the large size. However, If you plan to use large beads in your design, we recommend going with a larger size. For smaller beads, such as seed beads, choosing the smallest size of memory wire that fits could be the way to go. See our video, How to Choose the Right Size of Round Memory Wire for Your Design, for further details.
How to adorn memory wire?
You can adorn your memory wire by sliding on beads, wire wrapping components to the memory wire base, or using specialized findings such as slide-on cups or glue-on pads. See our videos and project tutorials for instructions, patterns, and design ideas.
What is memory wire?
Memory wire is a type of steel wire used in jewelry making that keeps its cold-forged shape. This characteristic helps keep wire designs in place after completion, making memory wire an excellent choice for quick and easy projects. Memory wire is typically sold in coils with pre-formed loops sized for bracelets, necklaces or rings, ...
Can you cut memory wire for bracelets?
Note: Memory wire is very strong. To prevent damage to your regular wire cutters, we highly recommend only using specialized memory wire cutters to cut memory wire. When creating a bracelet from memory wire, you can easily achieve a stacked or wrapped look by using multiple loops. Bracelet memory wire is available in small, medium, or large, ...
Can you use memory wire beads in a large size?
However, If you plan to use large beads in your design, we recommend going with a larger size.
What is jewelry wire used for?
When the finished piece isn’t structural, it can be used as a frame to wrap smaller wire around. It can be made using regular jewelry making tools.
What is craft wire used for?
For making jewelry, sculpting wirework, and even home fixes, craft wire is a versatile material that can be used with custom supports. It is made of metal and can be used to make curves, spirals, and more.
What is flat wire used for in jewelry making?
All of the gauges can be used to make no-solder wire. It is possible to create stamped pendants and bracelet components with the help of 5mm flat 21-gauge artistic wire.
What wire is best for making jewelry?
24 gauge jewelry wire is an all-purpose wire. It is possible to make good wire-wrapped loops out of 24 gauge wire. 22 gauge jewelry wire is a good wire to use.
What is beading wire used for?
It’s important to include beading wire in your jewelry making project. The term refers to nylon coated steel wire. Thicker wire is used for larger beads, while thin wire is used for smaller ones.
What wire will not tarnish?
Non-Tarnish Jewelry Wire is a great alternative to gold. ParaWire coats 99% pure copper wire with an exclusive non tarnish coating. This wire can be used to make jewelry and other crafts.
What kind of wire do you use to wrap crystals?
18 to 20 gauge wire is the best for wrapping stones, and copper wire is less expensive than 18 to 20 gauge wire.
What is jewelry cord?
Jewelry-making cord tends to be thicker than thread, often used as a design element itself in braiding, lacing, knotting and other applications.
What cord is used for floating necklaces?
Create floating necklaces with the reliable strength and flexible drape of clear Invizi-Cord. The versatile cord knots easily and is a favorite for not only beading projects, but also wind chimes and suncatchers.
What is pure silk thread?
Made with 100% natural silk, Purely Silk thread is colorfast and displays a soft sheen to complement beading projects. This durable 3-ply cord resists fraying and is ideal for adding professional-looking knots between beads or as a colorful design element itself such as in bead crochet, kumihimo and micro macramé.
What thread is used for stringing pearls?
Silk thread is perfect for stringing pearls and other beads. This material is available in thicker diameters than most silk thread, allowing you the option of working with larger bead holes. The drape and softness of this beading thread allows for stringing, knotting and Kumihimo braiding techniques to be used.
What is the strongest thread for stringing?
FireLine thread by Berkley designed for stringing and weaving projects is recognized as the strongest fiber per diameter ever created. The advanced technology used to create FireLine provides an ultra-thin diameter that is three times stronger than regular monofilament. FireLine beading thread is also UV protected, so it won't deteriorate because of exposure to sunlight. This thread does not stretch or tangle, threads effortlessly and resists abrasion. This material is great for use when weaving seed beads. We offer FireLine in nine diameters and five colors.
What is elastic cord?
Latex-free elastic cord is a 25% polyester, 75% rubber blend that keeps its memory longer than most. Elastic floss cord knots superbly and can be used for lightweight jewelry and craft applications. Finishing with a surgeon's knot is recommended. Hues are vivid so the thin diameters of cord stand out in designs.
Is aluminum wire good for wrapping?
A large benefit of aluminum is its ability to resist tarnish. Great for wire- wrapping and embellishment, aluminum is too light to support heavy designs.
What do you need to wire wrap?
The absolute basic materials you need to begin wire wrapping are wire, a cutter and something to wrap. Briolettes, cabochons and gemstones are ideal for wire wrapping, but with some planning and creativity, you can wire wrap almost anything. Other helpful tools that go hand in hand with wrapping include pliers, mandrels, files, and jigs.
What is Wire Wrapping?
In simple terms, wire wrapping is taking wire and wrapping it around itself and/or beads and other components to create jewelry. Wire wrapping can be used to make a loop for joining different components together, such as when creating a wrapped wire loop or wrapping a pendant. Through wire wrapping, you can also secure beads to a form, or even attach non bead items such as wire wrapping rhinestone cup chain onto a bangle. When wrapped, curved, bent and manipulated, the wire itself can become the structure and foundation of your piece or act as a design detail. Wire wrapping lets you create custom shapes and angles, and gives you more ways to use different components together.
Why is it so hard to figure out what wire to use?
It can be difficult to try and figure it out on your own because factors such as wire gauge (thickness) and wire hardness can greatly influence your results. Trying to replicate a design with the wrong type of wire will make the project much more difficult and can lead to frustration, hurt fingers and poor results.
