Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
February 08, 2010

Question:

What is the rule of thumb for binding wire to wrapping wire?
I.E. 21 gauge wrap  ___gauge binding.

Answer:

Everyone has his or her favorite wire combinations, so I will answer with my personal opinion. When using 12 to 14g square as a base, use 16g ½ rd ½ Hard; 16g to 19g square as a base = 18g ½ rd ½ H; 20g to 22g square = 20g ½ rd 1/2H; 22g to 24g square = 21g ½ rd ½ H.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
January 12, 2010

Question:

I have been struggling for years with holding bundles of wires together for wrapping. Tape is irritating and messy, waste wire does not hold well, and can let the bundle slip.
A few weeks ago, I was getting ready for a show, and being impatient, began using a pair of hemostats (the ones sold for fishermen to extract hooks) for their clamping action. I ground off the jaws smooth, put on tape, and they work well for wrapping up to four wires. Is there any tool I can buy that will clamp small groups of wire?

Answer:

Although I have rarely had issues using either 3M painter’s tape or white quarter-inch quilter’s tape, I know some folks like to use clamps to hold their wire bundles together. Wire-sculpture does have a small rubber clamp http://wire-sculpture.com/jewelry-table-vise/Small_Rubber_Head_3_Inch_Quick_Clamp_Pack_of_1-3491-0.html Another option would be to go to a hardware store and just look around. Sometimes you will be amazed at the new ideas you’ll come up with!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
December 31, 2009

Question:

How do I keep the wire wrapped on itself when doing spirals? It slips under/over itself and towards the end of the spiral it starts to open up creating space between the circles instead of staying tight/close to the preceding circle.

Answer:

Great question! Yes making a nice tight spiral may seem like a simple procedure, but it does take practice to get it right – and once you do – you’ve got it forever! Check out the ‘Best Ever Coils’ pattern by Contributing Guest Artist, Karen Roberts on our updated ‘Patterns & Ideas’ page here: http://wire-sculpture.com/pages/Jewelry_Making_Patterns2.html

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
October 22, 2009

Question:

I use craft wire and brass to learn on. When I wrap with it to hold wires together it won’t hold. I have to pinch it over and over to get it to hold. Any ideas of what I’m doing wrong? I usually us 20 gag.

Answer:

Without knowing what shape the wire is that you are using, I can only tell you that if you are using half-round it works best when the domed side is facing out and the flat side is against the wire you are wrapping together, and if you are using round wire to wrap round wires together into a flat bundle, like for a bracelet, that round wire rolls and square will hold much better with little effort.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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