Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 20, 2011

Question:

Which wire temper should be used for making rings (in general), dead soft or half hard?

-Barbie in Girard, Ohio

Answer:

Hi Barbie, this is a tricky question! Most traditional wire rings are made using half hard wire, but as you will read below, soft is perfect for some designs.

The classic Pharaoh’s cabochon ring is generally made using half hard wire, however when using a fragile stone like an opal or malachite it is smart to mix the tempers, using soft wire where the wire crosses the top of the stone.

The traditional Prong Ring is best made using half hard wire because the wires the prongs are made of must be able to keep their “spring” to hold the stone in its setting. (No, in my opinion soft wire cannot be substituted for the creator’s “ease,” because it will not hold up!)

My personal designs, both the Anything Cocktail and Filigree Pearl rings are best made using half hard wire, again for construction stability in the artist-created filigree as well as for locking in the snapsets.

When working on ring designs such as the Crystal Wave ring, soft wire is necessary because the design process depends on the shape being “stretched” as the ring is created (which also hardens the project while it is being made).

Simple single or multiple bead rings created for children or as adult pinkie or toe rings can easily be made in soft wire, as well as button ring designs.

In my personal opinion, I guess the easiest way to determine which temper of wire should be chosen for a ring design is to think about the “reason” for the ring. Will the ring be worn on a regular basis? Is the design large and/or ornate? Is it to be worn by a man or a woman? I am sure that there are many wire artists who have their own preferences, however I have been making and selling wire rings for about 18 years and the above is based on my experience and many happy customers. Properly made and sized wire rings are very popular. Have fun with them, but make sure when you sell one that it is a “stable” product.

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
September 5, 2011

Question:

I have 4mm Oval Lapis stones I wanted to make earrings out of. I am a beginner, so any answer will be for future plans. I initially thought the smaller, the stone the easier to wrap. Ha! What gauge wire, shape and temper would work best? My plan is to start your beginner course after playing around with wires, stones, and tools for a while. It’s hard for me to be a beginner as I see all the elaborate jewelry that can be made. But I’m having fun.

-Margaret in New Orleans, Louisiana

Answer:

Oh my goodness Margaret! I always begin my students with large stones and cabochons, so they can see what they are doing. Yes, please put those tiny cabs away for a while and begin with something at least as large as a 22x30mm cabochon.

May I ask, why would you want to "play around" with wire, stones and tools first? I am sure that our fellow wire artists, from beginner through advanced, will confirm that you should begin with something easy from the Beginner Series, like DVD #1, and learn good habits from the beginning! You will save not only money on supplies, but also possible stress on your hands and wrists by learning how to use "the right tool for the right job" as well as mental anguish that can come from frustration while you "try" to figure things out on your own.

You have already said that it’s hard for you to be a beginner – but starting out with my All Wire Bangle Bracelet will make you feel very "accomplished" when you put it on your arm, and you will have begun by learning the basic techniques that are within the construction of about 85% of Traditional Wire Jewelry designs!!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
July 19, 2011

Question:

Hi, can you please recommend a beginner wire DVD or book to learn the basics? Thanks.

-Susie in Sagle, Idaho

Answer:

Hi Susie, the best DVD set to learn the basics of traditional wire jewelry design and how to utilize those techniques taught into satisfying projects is our Beginner Series. As a progressive instructor, I designed these DVD projects to teach the basics and how to use them. By starting with DVD 1 and continuing on to #2, #3, etc., you will be able to totally understand and execute all of the skills necessary to become a confident wire jewelry artist!

Of course if you would like to learn the art of coiling and weaving, then I would suggest our new DVD series by Albina Manning, Coiling & Weaving Wire Jewelry Designs. This series will teach you the basics of using mainly round wire to create lovely wire jewelry pieces.

If either of these options is a bit more expensive than you would like to "test the wires," then you may wish to purchase a single class from Online Wire Jewelry Classes. Whichever way you choose to learn, have fun!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
June 28, 2011

Question:

Hi Dale, I am looking at purchasing your beginners video #1 (the wire bracelet), and I would like to order everything at once to get started with the project. Where do I find the list of materials for that video? I know this info may be somewhere else that I have not found. Thanks for your help.

-Cathy in Alexandria Bay, New York

Answer:

Hi Cathy, yes there is a lot of information on the Wire-Sculpture website! To view any of the supply lists for our DVDs, go to the front page of Wire-Sculpture.com, and look on the left side of the page. There is a green banner called Jewelry Making Supplies. Under the green banner, look for Jewelry Supply Kits, and click on it. From the Supply Kits page, click DVD Supply Lists, and then click on the series and DVD you seek. The supplies for each product are listed at the bottom of each page. Now, the DVD supply lists do not always tell you exactly what length of each wire is needed for a specific DVD project (measurements are included in the DVD instruction sheet); rather, the lists give you the choices of metals in the gauges that are used.

All Wire Unisex Bangle (for supply kit, click here)

To make your first all wire Unisex Bangle, you will need no less that 6 inches of 18-gauge round soft wire, and 22-gauge square half hard wire. The amount of 22-gauge square depends on the size of your wrist and how wide you would like the bracelet to be. Based on an 8-inch wrist you will be safe to use 6 feet of one metal choice (like silver) and 3 feet of another metal choice (like gold filled) to make a bi-color bracelet, or you can use one metal for the entire bracelet and get 9 feet of your choice. I hope you enjoy learning the wrapping process, and enjoy proudly wearing your new bangle!

Answer contributed by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
October 23, 2010

Question:

I am 73 and started wire wrapping agates I find on the beach. I would like to know if you have any books or DVDs on just wire wrapping pendants. I have sold a few, but I want to learn other techniques in wire wrapping.

-Leon in Florence, Oregon

Answer:

Free-form agates and other stones that have been water-polished, as well as a variety of "found" treasures, can be easily made into pendants by following the directions in Part 6 of the Beginner Series, "Caged Crystal Pendant."

I also have a great project/lesson that you can use directly from your computer! Lesson 3, "Lock That Rock" was designed just for items like these! Have fun!!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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