Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
January 3, 2011

Question:

What is an embossing hammer? Are there hammers with textures for hammering wire?

-Susy in Bellingham, Washington

Answer:

An embossing hammer is meant to shape metal from the inside out. They come in many different shapes and sizes, depending on the shaping desired and the size of the project. An embossing hammer stretches metal as it is used, as the metal being beaten curves up the side of the hammer, known as “raising.”

Often used by metalsmiths on sheet metals in jewelry making, embossing hammers are also used for repossé. Yes, they come with different textured heads. To find out more about embossing hammers, please do an Internet search using the phrase “embossing hammer use”, where you will find a lot of useful information on these hammers. Embossing hammers are most often used on sheet metals, not wire – but good idea.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
November 22, 2010

Question:

As a beginner, I would like to know the right gauge of wire I should practice with. I have been shown in 24 and 22-gauge copper to get me started. I have been told by others that square and half round would be better. I am getting ready to send in an order and really would like to use my money wisely while I practice. I will be starting with gemstones, freeform crystals, and cabochons. Thanks.

-Cathy in Jacksonville, Florida

Answer:

Cathy, it really depends on the way you wish to set the stones you mention using. I am known for using square wire, most often half hard temper, and sometimes, dead soft.

My favorite gauge is 22, because it works well in a lot of patterns and designs. Using square wire wrapped with half round is almost fool-proof, as round wire is very difficult to wrap around a flat bundle, keeping the bundle flat to be used as a frame to set a cabochon. However, round wire will work if you are caging something. For examples of what I am referring to, look at the photos of the Basic Pendant Frame and Lock That Rock. Here is an example of a Caged Crystal (scroll down to see it better).

As far as keeping your craft affordable, copper is great to practice in and quite a few people like to purchase jewelry made from copper. It also looks pretty when mixed with sterling silver, but as it will tarnish the silver quickly, I mix copper with Argentium®. Quite a few of my students work only in Argentium and/or sterling, as gold is so expensive these days. After you make a few pieces and offer them for sale, your customer feedback will help you decide which metal(s) will sell best in your area.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
June 06, 2010

Question:

I am still learning and am having trouble sizing the rings properly.  They always come out larger than what I am attempting to create.  I have purchased a few of the cd’s to try to learn the proper way to do this, but have not found it on my cds.  I have the metal ring sizer.  Can you tell me what I am doing wrong?  I have tried with several sizes of wire and they are always too large.  May I also ask you to suggest a proper cd to show me how to do it?  I was able to follow the visual presentation you used to have on your site showing how to make the little ring with the bead.  That is what inspired me to think I could make jewelry.  I would appreciate any advice you may be able to give.

Answer:

Although I cannot comment regarding the past on-site ring video by the previous owner, I believe that I can help you with your sizing challenge.

Make sure that the ring sizer you are using matches the ring mandrel you are working on.
If it is not, then while making a ring, be sure to use the corrected location on the mandrel that matches the size your customer needs, or that you wish to make. (Unfortunately not all mandrels are the same, nor are ring sizers, although usually the metal sizers are correct, so it may be the mandrel.)

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
May 30, 2010

Question:

I’m new at Wire Wrapping, and I use the quilter’s tape on my wires. It leaves glue on my wire and I don’t know what to use to clean them, as I am working with gold & silver metal wire.

Answer:

A cotton swab or clean piece of t-shirt that has been dampened with denatured alcohol will easily remove any tape residue as well as unwanted marker from any of your wire jewelry, with no harm to the wire. After cleaning, wipe the area clean with a dry, clean t-shirt scrap or a polishing cloth. (You can find denatured alcohol at a hardware store.)

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
May 01, 2010

Question:

I bought the pin vise that is featured in wire-sculpture.com.
Is this the same one that Cougar uses on her DVD’s from Jewelry Television?  It does not look like it.  The one she uses has a blue handle.

Answer:

A ‘sliding’ or ‘thumb operated’ pin vise can have one of two different heads. One model has a head that is cone shaped, and while the other version is round with a flat top. Both models have four jaws that meet at the top, which is where the wire is inserted. To tighten the vise around the wire, the sliding metal washer (for lack of a better word) is slid tightly toward the top, causing the four jaws to pinch together around the wire. The vise you are referring to as mine, is the same as the ones found on Wire-Sculpture, here: Sliding Pin Vise

Because I like to bring my own tools home after an event, I put blue painter’s tape around the handle to help identify it.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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