Beading Wire
You can easily become overwhelmed with the variety of beading wire available. There are many types of finishes and materials, which include gold, brass, copper, silver or craft wire. There are also variations of silver and gold which include gold-filled, sterling silver, gold and silver plated. Brass, craft wire and copper are most commonly packed in 10 to 40 yard spools, but the more expensive varieties of beading wire are commonly sold by the ounce or foot. Brass and copper are easier to manipulate so along with being a cheaper option are easier to practise with when starting out..
Beading wire hardness
A wire’s temper or malleability can be best described by its hardness. Half-hard and dead-soft are the two main categories of sterling silver. If the wire bends just by using your fingers it is classed as dead-soft. A slightly stiffer wire which will hold it’s shape better is half-hard. Hammering a peice of beading wire will flatten it and make it a more ridgid piece, although you will find that most wires will harden a bit as they are manipulated..
Shape of the Wire
Wire shapes include half-round, round, triangle, square and twisted, and are available in most types of beading wire.. Choosing the shape of wire required will be easier if you know the type of style you want to have.Scale of Wire gauge?
The thickness or diameter of the wire is measured by the gauge. The most common wire sizes used for beading and jewelry making are between 12 and 28. If you want to use a thicker wire for your project the you need to choose a lower gauge number wire.
Gauge 28
Delicate applications like crochet or twining usually require this gauge or thinner due to them being delicate. Also your beads, pearls or gemstones have tiny holes then this gauge wire may be the only option.
Gauge 24 – 26
Ultra fine wire is what this gauge of wire is also called.. Wire crochet, beaded flowers and wire wrapping as some of the uses for this type of wire. But is also regularly used with small gemstones and small pearls.
Gauge 20 – 22
You can use many jewelry finding with this gauge wire so it is an all purpose wire. This is available in two types, half-hard or dead soft.
Gauge 16 – 18
This wire is of medium thickness and fairly sturdy. This wire is regularly used to make clasps, large jump rings and chain mail.
12 – 14 Gauge Wire
This wire is only available in the hardness – dead-soft and is best used for wire shapes that are unsupported such as neck wires and bangle bracelets.
Tags: beading wire, wire gauge
