How to Choose Wire for Jewelry
Choose your project., Choose what material you want to use., Choose the size of wire you want to use for your project.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Choose your project.
Different jewelry projects require different wire, so choose wire anew each time you begin a new type of wire jewelry creation. -
Step 2: Choose what material you want to use.
Wire comes in aluminum, iron, copper wire, craft, colored, French wire, gold-filled, memory wire, sterling silver wire, silver plated and tiger tail.
The price largely depends upon the material used to make the wire.
Tiger tail wire is a very common wire in jewelry making.
It is a braided stainless steel wire that is coated in nylon.
It is very strong and comes in a number of colors.
It cannot be used for wire wrapping, but it can be used to give the look of an "invisible" setting, where the beads look like they are floating.
Other standard, inexpensive choices for skilled jewelry making are copper, aluminum and niobium.
Copper wire comes in gold and silver colors and it is coated with enamel.
Color coated aluminum wire comes in many colors and gauges and often has the color inside the wire, so you don't have to be as careful when working with tools.
Niobium is light, comes in many colors and is not delicate.
French wire is a coiled wire that is great for accenting jewelry.
It comes in copper, gold-plated, silver-plated, sterling silver and vermeil.
The smaller the coil, the more precious the metal, and the more expensive.
Gold filled wire has 100 times more gold in it than gold-plated wire.
It comes in dead soft, half-hard and full-hard, which is a scale from very delicate to extremely tough.
This is an expensive wire, so it should probably be saved for special projects.
Memory wire is made from carbon steel or stainless steel.
It is great for bangles or other loops because it returns to the loop it was made into in the factory.
It cannot be used for any projects that require wrapping.
Sterling silver also comes in the strength scale of dead soft, half-hard and full-hard, Gold and silver-plated wires are great for creating a fancy look, but they can be easily ruined by tools. , 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.
This is the beginning of the finer gauges of wire.
Also use fine tools with this gauge.
Use 24-gauge (0.51 mm) wire for most beading projects.
The gauge fits through most beads but isn't too bulky.
It has a tendency to get kinks so you may need to buy a wire-straightening tool.
Use 22-gauge (0.64 mm) wire for stone settings, earrings and pendants.
It is a medium-gauge wire, which is commonly found in a number of materials and colors.
Use 20 to 18-gauge (0.81 to 1 mm) wire for average clasps, jump rings and pins.
This medium gauge wire can also be used for thicker chains or for stringing glass beads.
Use 16 to 14-gauge (1.3 to
1.6 mm) wire, best used for large, heavy jewelry construction.
If you use heavy beads or you are experimenting, this thick wire will make a statement.
You can also use it for napkin rings or lampshade forms. -
Step 3: Choose the size of wire you want to use for your project.
Detailed Guide
Different jewelry projects require different wire, so choose wire anew each time you begin a new type of wire jewelry creation.
Wire comes in aluminum, iron, copper wire, craft, colored, French wire, gold-filled, memory wire, sterling silver wire, silver plated and tiger tail.
The price largely depends upon the material used to make the wire.
Tiger tail wire is a very common wire in jewelry making.
It is a braided stainless steel wire that is coated in nylon.
It is very strong and comes in a number of colors.
It cannot be used for wire wrapping, but it can be used to give the look of an "invisible" setting, where the beads look like they are floating.
Other standard, inexpensive choices for skilled jewelry making are copper, aluminum and niobium.
Copper wire comes in gold and silver colors and it is coated with enamel.
Color coated aluminum wire comes in many colors and gauges and often has the color inside the wire, so you don't have to be as careful when working with tools.
Niobium is light, comes in many colors and is not delicate.
French wire is a coiled wire that is great for accenting jewelry.
It comes in copper, gold-plated, silver-plated, sterling silver and vermeil.
The smaller the coil, the more precious the metal, and the more expensive.
Gold filled wire has 100 times more gold in it than gold-plated wire.
It comes in dead soft, half-hard and full-hard, which is a scale from very delicate to extremely tough.
This is an expensive wire, so it should probably be saved for special projects.
Memory wire is made from carbon steel or stainless steel.
It is great for bangles or other loops because it returns to the loop it was made into in the factory.
It cannot be used for any projects that require wrapping.
Sterling silver also comes in the strength scale of dead soft, half-hard and full-hard, Gold and silver-plated wires are great for creating a fancy look, but they can be easily ruined by tools. , 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.
This is the beginning of the finer gauges of wire.
Also use fine tools with this gauge.
Use 24-gauge (0.51 mm) wire for most beading projects.
The gauge fits through most beads but isn't too bulky.
It has a tendency to get kinks so you may need to buy a wire-straightening tool.
Use 22-gauge (0.64 mm) wire for stone settings, earrings and pendants.
It is a medium-gauge wire, which is commonly found in a number of materials and colors.
Use 20 to 18-gauge (0.81 to 1 mm) wire for average clasps, jump rings and pins.
This medium gauge wire can also be used for thicker chains or for stringing glass beads.
Use 16 to 14-gauge (1.3 to
1.6 mm) wire, best used for large, heavy jewelry construction.
If you use heavy beads or you are experimenting, this thick wire will make a statement.
You can also use it for napkin rings or lampshade forms.
About the Author
Teresa Jackson
Specializes in breaking down complex home improvement topics into simple steps.
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