Get to Know Your Wire




Wire Gauge

Selecting the right wire gauge can be annoying for a beginner. It's not a skill most people learn in school or on the job. Most beginner wire jewelry makers are gauge novices, so don't let it bother you.

Here are a few things to remember:

1. The bigger the number, the smaller the wire. The smaller the number, the bigger the wire.

2. If you can buy only one size wire to begin crafting jewelry, make it 20 gauge. It's sturdy and fits most bead holes except pearls.


3. If you're still confused about gauge, buy an inexpensive wire measuring device.

Hard, Dead Soft, or Half Hard


Working with wire is the best way to figure out the differences between hard and soft wire. To get the experience, you have to start somewhere, so here are a few tips:

1- Hard wire is Less malleable (able to be manipulated), but it will keep its shape better than soft.

2- Dead Soft is more likely to do what you want it to do, but it doesn't hold its shape as well as hard. If you hammer wire it hardens (and flattens). If you flatten it too thin, it begins to weaken. 

3- If you're still uncertain about wire, try half hard. It has some qualities of both hard and dead soft.

4- Copper wire is not usually labeled hard, soft or dead soft like sterling silver wire.

Play with your wire

You'll likely find that as you work with wire, you'll develop a favorite gauge and hardness. It will also vary depending on what you're creating. 

The best way to get to know your wire is to put in some time playing with it. Buy a lot of inexpensive wire. Sit down while you're watching TV or listening to music and bend it, twist it, experiment with it. But most of all, have fun. 

Just get wired
Love, The Nice Lady

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