There are many different types of wire available and here we examine what makes a wire suitable for wire jewelry and look in a little more detail at copper and craft wires. More information about silver wire can be found here.
What to look for in wire to be used to make jewelry.
Any wire is suitable for making jewelry with as long as it is malleable and ductile (ie ‘soft’). This is important as it not only means that the wire is easy to work with, but also ensures that the wire won’t break as it gets work hardened. To demonstrate what is meant by ‘work hardening’ simply take a paper clip and bend the inner part back and forth as if you are unbending it. For the first few times it will bend back into position each time, however eventually it will snap in two. This is where the metal has become ‘work hardened’ and brittle. The same will happen with the wire that you use to make jewelry with, it will bend and shape quite happily to start with, however if it is over worked the metal will become brittle and will snap. Therefore when working with metal wire it is best to practice with cheap wires first before starting with more expensive wires. Even experienced wire workers will make prototypes in copper before moving on to precious metals.
Copper.
Copper is widely available and can be found in local hardware stores as well as specialist wire suppliers. Copper is relatively low cost and has many positive features. Copper is ‘soft’ and malleable and can easily be formed and bent making it ideal for twisting into shapes. It is also available in a variety of thicknesses and grades. Whist copper is a great material for someone looking to start making wire jewelry, it does have a couple of drawback. Copper will tarnish, and not only will it develop a slight patina on its surface – it will also share this patina with a wearer! So when designing jewelry it is worth remembering that it may discolor. Saying that, many people believe in the positive qualities of copper and wear copper items to help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
Craft Wires
Craft wire is typically copper wires with a colored coating. This wire has specifically been designed for use in craft and art projects and is generally easy to use. It is available in a wide variety of colors and thickness, and lends itself to colorful and funky creations. Silver plated wires are also included by some manufacturers. One difference between craft wire and other wires is this wire is branded and different suppliers offer their own range of colors and styles.
When working with craft or coated wires there are a couple of key things to remember. Firstly, although the coating on the wire will withstand a certain amount of wear and tear, rough edges on pliers and other tools will damage it. A slight nick in the coating can result in the metal underneath ie copper, tarnishing and spoiling the look of the finished piece. In addition to this, beads may also wear the coating away, therefore for high value items of jewelry, whilst craft wires are great fun to work with, perhaps silver or other precious metal alternatives should be considered.
For more information about see the Suite101 article about working with silver wire.
