Copper wire is much softer than brass and easier to
bend.
Liver of Sulfur does not patinate yellow
brass, but red brass works beautifully. I
spent almost 2 full days on a necklace using yellow brass (for the first time), thinking that I would oxidize the wire with liver of sulfur, only
to be totally disillusioned in the end!
3.
If it is desired to add patina to copper with
liver of sulfur, make sure to read the fine
print to ensure it is solid copper. Many of
the ‘craft wires’ have a coating that keeps
the copper shiny, which is fine if that is desired look.
4.
When I first truly
started with wire, I
made the worst took
marks on every step
of the design. Cover the pliers
with painters-type blue masking
tape or a product known as Tool
Magic. That way, there are less tool
marks to be buffed!
5.
6.
7.
8.
Learn wire gauges – this took me a while.
I would never attempt a clasp with a wire
gauge thinner than 16 gauge – in my opinion, it is just not strong enough. Most of
my clasps are made with 14 gauge wire.
Buy the best tools that your budget will
allow, and pay heed to the literature that
comes with the flush cutters! Don’t use
them on a gauge that is just too thick for
the cutters, as they will be ruined!
9.
10.
Learn to use the jeweler’s saw! It is so
much cheaper to make your own jump
rings!
Take a macro image of your finished piece
of jewelry and then take a really good look
at it on your computer screen. This is the
moment when I have found more ‘mistakes’ – open jump rings, ends that are not
quite smooth enough, etc. I think of my camera as my
‘third eye.’
11.
Close your jump rings ALL THE WAY! There
is nothing worse than seeing half open
jump rings on otherwise beautiful design!
Smooth the wire ends, especially on ear
wires, but also on the links before tucking
in the end. Jewelry files, emery boards,
wire rounders are all great for this, as is
0000 steel wool.
A few notes about Silver Filled Wires
I love silver filled wire. It is a base metal wire with a
thick coating of sterling silver and is much cheaper
than sterling silver. It is a little stiffer than sterling
silver, due to the base metal, but it takes patina (liver
of sulfur) quite well and it holds up in the tumbler.
If you choose to use silver filled wire, note that you
cannot ‘ball the wire ends’ for head pins. Silver filled
wire is comprised of a base metal with a thick silver
coating – but the two metals melt at different temperatures – silver melts before the base metal, and
a perfect ‘ball’ on the end of the wire is but a dream.
Trust me – it’s ugly!
Silver filled sheet is also available, but again the core
is a base metal and two different colors are apparent
when the sheet is cut. This may be the look you are
going for – but if not, stick with sterling silver sheet.
On a personal note, I only buy silver filled wire from
Rio Grande. I have purchased it from two other wellknown online stores, only to be totally disappointed.
The wire was intensely tarnished, as if it had been
left out in the rain. It was also sold on a very small
spool, and had kinks in the wire, making it almost
unusable for me.
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