BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Jewelry Making What type of wire to use?

I want to form it in a shape and also be able to put it through the earring hole. What's a good one that's formable but not too flimsy? Should I use stainless steel (for allergic ears)?

Hi, I use 21 gauge 1/2 hard sterling or gold filled wire for ear wires. Some people prefur dead soft because it is easier to work with. Hope this helps.

Isn't gold filled also gold on the outside? I need silver and don't want sterling. I found on a website that someone uses down to 17 gauge for spirals but they don't mention what hardness. I looked at some 18 gauge wire at a store and that bends way too easily so I'm guessing it was soft wire. On another site about a project, someone who needed a spiral shape that dangled actually used bracelet memory wire.

Hi, yes gold filled is gold on the out side. Artistic wire comes in a lot of colors including silver. The same with Parawire. These are both copper wire that has a color coating on them. Copper wire is soft and is easy to use. As you work the wire it becomes what is called work hardened. You can harden wire buy pulling it through a pair of nylon nosed pliers or after it is shaped you can harden it buy tapping with a chasing, leather, or nylon hammer on an anvil or steel block. As far as wire used for ear wires I wouldn't go smaller than 20 gauge. I use 21 gauge 1/2 hard because it holds the shape better. I can make them very quickly so they don't work harden as much as I would like. Wire used for clasps need to be a gauge that can hold shape with wear. A bracelet with heavy beads and/or stones would need a heavy gauge wire clasp. A dainty braclet with small crystals a 20 or 21 gauge can be used for a clasp. The gauge of wire that you use for your spirals depends on the look that you want and how they are to be used. If you want a dainty look then use 20,21,22 gauge. If you want a more substacial look use 16, 17, 18 gauge. I do suggest that you practice, practice, practice on cheapy wire first. Hardware stores sell copper wire for reasonable prices. Memory wire is full hard and difficult to work with. I hope that this helps you

One option is to use dead soft 21 gauge wire to form the earwire or spiral and then work harden it using a bench block and nylon or rawhide mallet. The mallet won't mar the metal but it will allow you to use wire that's easily formed and then make it a bit sturdier. This won't work for 3-D shapes, obviously. ;-)

Thank you very much for the suggestion, WanderlustBling!

I have a severe wire addiction, I will be heading to betty ford for that soon! I use half hard ss wire, I love it!!! anywhere from 26 ga to 16 ga Susie BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.