Daily Wire Tip Dec. 7: Projects with 18-Gauge Wire
Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
December 7, 2010
Question:
I made a mistake, and bought multiple feet of 18-gauge round dead soft sterling silver and gold filled wire, yes, I did. I must not have had my glasses on – I purchased, and bought way too much…now you can laugh! So I need your help, as I now am looking for some patterns or ideas to use these big pieces with. I am hoping to use them in bracelets or rings, but have not found much use for this 18-gauge round besides the Ring Series #1 (pinkie and toe rings). I could use a little help here, well a lot of help, with this wonderful dilemma that I have gotten myself into. Help me?
-Terri in Gold Bar, Washington
Answer:
Terri, with the prices of precious metals going up on a daily basis, you can never have too much!
You can use the 18-gauge round soft for bracelet hook and eye clasps, as well as in single or Double Wrapped Hooks.
Soft 18-gauge wire also makes really cool links that can be forged and/or textured by using a chasing hammer and bench block. For a cool example, check out these photos of the Leaf Link and you will see that 18-gauge round soft wire can also be used to make rings and chains for bracelets or necklaces.
Also, in our Free Jewelry Patterns, Albina Manning shows how to make some Spring Flower Earrings using 18-gauge round soft wire.
Now, go have fun with your “excess” wire!
Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong
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Dale’s so right, It’s endless what you can do with the wire! You can also harden the wire by lightly hammering it with a plastic/rubber tipped hammer, tumble the piece when you’re done or you can work hardend it. Either way, you didn’t go wrong. Silver and gold hit records yesterday. $30 for silver. Can you imagine?!?
18 G DS wire is perfect for making free form woven pendents. Select a chunky bead with a hole that will accomodate the wire. Cut a piece of wire 2-3 feet long. Slip the bead onto the wire near the center and wrap the bead a couple of times from each direction. take one tail of the wire and wrap around the barrel of an ink pen several times to form a bail (the longer the wire the more loops you can make. If my wire is long enough I like 5 wraps. Now weave the ends of both wires through the basic wraps and the bail and form some swirls and curly-cues. Weave in the ends and finish by gently tapping the wire with a hammer to harden it up.
Cool idea Katherine – thanks for sharing with all of us!
Looking from the man’s point of view, bracelets made from chainmaille are really nice about this time of year. With 18 you get a really solid looking bracelet.
I love to make chain links and spirals as charms for necklaces or earrings with my 18 ga soft wire. Have fun!
I use a huge amount of 18 Gauge dead soft wire for bracelets, clasps, as Dale suggested, and the thousands of jump ring I make for myself and classes! I just made a “double” Heracles Knot bracelet using 2 strands of 18 Gauge, instead of my usual 16 Gauge. Customers love it and I’ve already sold 3 this past weekend!
WOW! What you seem to consider a problem, would be my dream come true. There is no such thing as having too much wire of any any any type or size. Have a blast with it. I sure would. Don’t worry-be happy. hehe
I am new to this and have done a few private shows, have a website and even showed some children how to make wire Christmas tree ornaments, while some of the parents bought from my jewelry collection, during a kids craft day. I like using the 16 and 18 gage wire to make chunky all sterling silver pendants. I have made a simple swirl and then gave it a little tap with a chasing hammer with the ball end to strengthen it and give texture. My problem is keeping and affording the supplies I need to keep up with my imagination. Lots of luck with your wire art.
Yes, yes, 18 gauge. I love this to make Egyptian Link bracelets. Check youtube videos or books on wire for the technique. You would use lots of the wire for this. I teach a class a a local college and the students love to this bracelet. The others are right, you can do almost anything with this wire. I use 16 and 18 a lot. What a wonderful dilemma.