Wire used for Beading and Jewellery Making
With the many varieties of beading wire available it is easy for you to become overwhelmed. Silver, gold, coper and brass are some of the finishes and materials available to use. There are also variations of silver and gold which include gold-filled, sterling silver, gold and silver plated. More expensive beading wire are commonly available by the ounce or foot whereas copper and brass wires can be packed in 10 to 40 yard spools.. If you are just starting out then opting for the cheaper and easier to manipulate copper or brass may be better for practising..
Beading wire hardness
A wire’s hardness describes a wire’s temper or malleability. Sterling silver can be available in two main categories; these are half-hard and dead-soft. Dead-soft is used when you want to bend the wire with your fingers. Half-hard holds its shape better as it is a slightly stiffer wire. Hammering a peice of beading wire will flatten it and make it a more ridgid piece, although you will find that most wires will harden a bit as they are manipulated..
February 14 2011 | Hickory Dickory | Comments Off