Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip

Question:

I am trying to attach a snapset with a gemstone in it to a wire bundle that has already been wrapped together. I was wondering if I should attach the snapset first with a wire to hold to the wire bundle, or if I should put the faceted gemstone in the snapset first and then put the wire through at the bottom of the snapset to attach it this way. Thanks so much for your response.

-Casey in Wilson, Texas

Answer:

As I don’t know what you are actually making, or what shape/size snapset you are incorporating, this answer has to be a bit generalized.

Some people put the snapset under the wire they wish to attach it to, and then put the gemstone in. To me, this is a good way for the stone to pop out of the setting as the rest of the design is made, or even after, as the design is worn. Instead, the WS Faculty and I prefer to set the stone into the snapset first, and then insert a square wire (or two, depending on the shape and size of the setting) between the prongs and under the stone. Now the set stone is ready to be either used as a wrap wire or as a construction wire, and added to the piece, by attaching it to the item via the wires under the stone.

How to Use Snapsets 

 

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
June 04, 2010

Question:

I am trying to make the bracelet that is the first project on your Beginner’s DVD.  I am having great difficulty keeping all the wires together.  I keep straightening the wires, and yet the wires do not lay flat.  What am I doing wrong?  I am using 21-gauge half round half hard sterling silver wire and gold plated wire.

Answer:

The first thing I saw in your question was that you are using half-round wire for the bindings. Please try this design using the wire shape called for: half-hard square. If your base wires are not as straight as they can possibly be, then while making the bracelet bundle, at least make them all go in the same direction. In this way when you draw them up through your hands while taping, they should lay together nicely, as you are forming a ‘plank’. When using the power of square half-hard wire to wrap, even if your bundle is slightly curved, the wraps should be strong enough to bind the plank-shaped bundle. (If you insist on using a small half-round, half-hard, be prepared to add a LOT more wraps than the design calls for, as this gauge is not strong enough to do the job you expect it to.)

On any pattern, if you are beginning, please follow the author’s specifications regarding wire gauges/tempers/shapes, as we do this for a reason – they work! When you have become proficient with a technique, then you can try to alter the design/wire tempers, shapes & gauges to make variations of that design.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
June 01, 2010

Question:

I’m looking for a silver wire won’t tarnish, but shine brightly, about 26-gauge, 14-gauge, or 10-gauge. I like the jewelry for sale in Swarovski stores, and I always wonder what kind of silver wire they use. It doesn’t look real, but it’s very shiny, and it won’t tarnish. I found the chain-like kind of this material, but I can’t find the wire, in the gauge I wanted. Please give some information on where can I find this wire at a good price.

Answer:

Hi Lilian, yes Wire-Sculpture does carry argentium silver (also called anti-tarnish silver) in a variety of shapes and sizes. Follow this link where you can shop by shape: Argentium Wire. When anyone reaches “Gold Club Status” (details here: Gold Club) their price on everything (no matter how small an ordered quantity) is automatically 25% off! With the addition of prices lowering with quantity purchases, Wire-Sculpture is a great place to purchase wire!

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 29, 2010

Question:

How can I arrange to get only your DVDs relative to wire wrapping?

Answer:

Each set of instructional DVDs is all about wire wrapping! You can either purchase them individually or by the set (each set includes bonus projects that cannot be purchased individually). Wire-Sculpture has just started an automatic shipping program too (economically designed). Jewelry Making DVDs

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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