Daily Wire Tip Dec. 2: Twisting Wire to Replace Round Wire
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
December 2, 2010
Question:
I have a pattern that calls for round wire, but I want to substitute two wires twisted together. How do I know what gauges twisted together equal which gauge? Is there a formula for this?
-Valarie in Clifford Township, Pennsylvania
Answer:
Valerie, I don’t know if there is a serious formula out there for this procedure. What you can do is to take two pieces of round wire, twist them together and then use a wire gauge to measure them and record all of your findings for future reference.
I do know that when twisting two round wires together (which looks great), the end thickness will depend on how tightly they are twisted. When twisted very tightly, the end result will be more bulky, because the wires will “stack down” as the twists become shorter and closer together.
Anyone else have any suggestions for Valarie?
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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jewelry pattern, jewelry wire, round wire, twisted wire, wire gauge
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I have used what is typically called a “wire stripper” (usually used in electrical work) to measure the gauge of scrap pieces that I want to use for findings. It has a number of holes labeled with wire gauges that you can place the wire into and find the best fit.
Good Luck! This sounds like a great idea.
Cheers,
Peggy Wolff
Nice Peggy – thanks!
That sounds great to me, and will look better than one.
Calipers can be used to measure the mm of the newly twisted wire as well.
Thanks Kathy (sometimes the obvious eludes me!)
I have been getting ready to try this, very timely question today! I’m starting with 26 gauge wires and will work a design based on whatever the results are from twisting, not the other way around. Should be interesting. ..
R Burns – it sounds like you are approaching this project from the right angle to me!
That sounds like a great idea Peggy, I do have one of those.
I dont know if this would help at all but in my personal experience of working with twisting wires, I was working on a bracelet that called for 20g wire, but ran out. I had previously twisted 4 strands of 24g together for a different project, and had 2 6in strands left over. They came out as the exact size of the 20g the other patten called for, so my design had a nice twist to it (pun intended lol)
Natalie