Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip

Question:

I want to make neck wires for pendants. I have several, and most seem to be made of 2mm or 3mm square wire. What kind of wire would you suggest for this application? Should it be soft or hard wire? Should it be hammered to harden it after making the neck wire? I want some to be plain and others to have an S-shaped loop at the end to hang the pendants from.

Answer:

The best experiences I have had with making this style of neck collar has been to use either an 8-gauge or 10-gauge round or square dead soft wire. The reason I prefer the soft temper is because heavy wire will work harden very quickly, especially when it is hammered. I prefer to make the shape myself, hammering as it is shaped, rather than work with the spring present in a half or full hard piece.

It’s totally up to you which wire shape to use. Round wire is obviously kinder to the skin, and without much extra work, it can be textured and beaten to the curves you choose to flatten or leave in. Shaping and hammering square wire requires a bit of care with regard to how sharp the edges can become if the wire is over-forged. Myself, I really enjoy using larger gauge, like 10-gauge round soft wire, for these types of designs, in gold filled, sterling silver, or copper.

Related: Heavy Wire Collar DVD, Elegant Collar DVD

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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