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Q&A for How to Choose Wire for Jewelry
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QuestionWhat's a good material for ring making?Community AnswerA really good material is pure sterling silver wire. Choose the width and thickness of the wire depending on personal preference.
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QuestionI'm currently working on a project where I need to bend the wire and have the wire remain in that shape with a small amount of give. Should I use the 16- or the 14-gauge wire?Community AnswerIf you're using silver wire (sterling, or "ss"), use the half-hard. It will be easy enough to work with, yet not pull out of shape. Avoid craft wire -- it would be too soft.
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QuestionWhat's a good wire for beaded bouquets?Community AnswerThin copper wire works great for this.
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QuestionIs there a special wire used for making jewelry?Community AnswerAny wire that is strong enough to hold the piece of jewelry will work. There is not always a specific type.
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QuestionWhich gauge is best for wrapping antique buttons for earrings and pendants?Flying Dolphin 101Community AnswerI think that it would really depend on the button itself. I would use a thin half hard wire. If you are looking for an exact number, I would try between a 20 and 24 gauge. If you want to wrap the wire around the button, use a wire that will bend easily but stay in place. If you want to put the wire through the button, use a thin wire that will bend rather easily.
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QuestionWhat do I do if my sterling silver wire is tarnishing quickly?Community AnswerGive it a quick delicate wash with warm water, washing up liquid and sponge, then pat your piece of jewellery dry with a soft cloth.
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QuestionFor four earrings that have stones that are 7 to 8mm in size, what size wire do I need?Community AnswerA 20 gauge wire works well for most jewelry-making needs, such as wire-wrapping, but you can go with a finer gauge, such as 21, 22, or 24 for smaller more delicate beads and stones.
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QuestionHow do I know what type of wire to use for seashells for jewelry?Community AnswerIt depends what you want to do with the seashells. If you are stringing them, then a fine gauge, such as 26 or 28 would work. If you want to wrap them, then a 20 or 21 gauge might be a good option.
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QuestionWhat gauge wire should I use for wire wrapping jewelry?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerThe wire gauge you choose can vary based on what you're wrapping and how you want it to look, but generally, 20-gauge wire is a solid choice for most wire wrapping jewelry projects. Other gauges, such as 26-gauge wire can be a great choice for smaller accents or embellishments. You may also want to choose different gauges based on the type of wire that you're using. For instance, copper, aluminum and niobium are much cheaper than gold or silver, so you might feel more comfortable purchasing larger gauge wires, which can be more expensive than smaller gauges. Larger gauge gold wire is going to be more expensive than smaller gauge, because there's more of it!
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QuestionWhat kind of jewelry wire is there?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerThere are a ton of different types of wire you can use for jewelry making! Wire comes in materials such as aluminum, iron, copper wire, craft, colored, French wire, gold-filled, memory wire, sterling silver wire, silver plated and tiger tail. You'll want to choose wire based on what type of project you're doing. For instance, if you're trying to create a look where beads look like they're floating, you could use tiger tail wire to create an "invisible" setting. Tiger tail wire is a very common wire in jewelry making that's made of a braided stainless steel wire coated in nylon. The price of the wire you choose largely depends on what it's made out of. For example, gold wire is going to be more expensive than copper wire.
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QuestionWhat is French wire for?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerFrench wire is a used for a variety of projects, but it's often used in jewelry making. It's a coiled wire that can be made of a variety of metals such as copper, gold-plated, silver-plated, sterling silver, and vermeil. It's a great tool to use for accenting pieces of jewelry and can be really affordable, depending on what material it's made of. The smaller the coil is, then the more precious the metal it's made of is, which means the more expensive it is. You can find French wire at jewelry supply shops and craft supply shops. You can also order them online for even more options to choose from.
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