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Post by rocklicker on Oct 20, 2006 18:39:49 GMT -5
I'm doing a pendant and am having trouble finding the right size half round wire. It is not avalable in the type of metal. Can I use round wire for the coil-ey parts instead of half round?
I'm using 22 or 24GA square wire for the "frame" and want to use 24 or 26GA round wire for the "coil wrap parts" (I don't know the lingo here) instead of half round. Will it stick out too much? Any suggestions?
Steve
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Post by Cher on Oct 20, 2006 20:07:30 GMT -5
When I first started Steve, I used round all the time for the binding wraps so go ahead, just try to keep the ends smooth. Have you checked at fire mountain? They have a lot of wire there and quite a bit of the half round.
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Post by docone31 on Oct 20, 2006 22:15:54 GMT -5
First off Steve, dump the guage measurement. The suppliers will pound you each time. When I measure mine, it is always off the legal deviation, 10%. Here is what happens.
You order 20 guage from a vendor. They ship 20 guage. You need more, so you order say 16ozs from another vendor, or the same one. They send you 20 guage. It is 8% off. You will never match that wire with the other wire. If you use it the piece will sit, and sit, and sit. It becomes hard to sell. I make the vendors send me my wire stock in .032, .025, . 020. That is why you are haveing an hard time to match 1/2rd.
As a general rule. .025 1/2rd will work with .032, and .020. .032 will work with .032, and .025.
Wire is pulled through a draw plate. The draw plate is measured in thousandths, or milimeters. Not guage. Guage is used because they have large tolerances. Jewelery has precise tolerances.
Dump the guage, and get out the micrometer. Order by the measurement. They have to sell the product by thousandths if you recquest it. If you order .032, and they send you .028. You would flip, yet, ordering by guage, 20guage by Handy and Harmon, is .032. However the 10% tolerance works to their advantage by selling something for larger than it is. They make more $ and do not tell you.
In a pinch, you can twist the square stock you wrapped the piece with and use that as binding wires. Just make sure you use only hard wire. Soft wire will work itself loose, and the layer of gold shears off with handling.
Always hard wire. The bends are sharper, and the wire looks more professional on the piece.
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Shelbeeray
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 688
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Post by Shelbeeray on Oct 20, 2006 23:27:17 GMT -5
Hey Doc - damn fine explanation about the difference between gauge and metric measurements for wire. I had seen you kinda grumble before when some of us use gauge but never understood why until now! Thank you! This would be nice to have in the lapidary tips section because it is really important to know.
I haven't used 1/2 round yet. I'm going to have to order some soon. Maybe I'll sneak an order right now! <running to get credit card - bankruptcy really can't be THAT bad!>
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Post by rocklicker on Oct 21, 2006 2:21:17 GMT -5
That clears a lot up, thanks. I'll be a bit more specific when ordering wire and use size. Luckily for me, I need only buy enough wire for this one project so I don't have to worry about size tolerances. I gather round is probably fine for the wrapping, which is a relief.
Steve
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Post by docone31 on Oct 21, 2006 17:18:58 GMT -5
Get a draw plate, and then you only need to order one size. You can make 1/2rd, square, and draw down to different sizes. Notice on the draw plate, it is not in guage.
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Post by hermatite on Oct 21, 2006 17:25:06 GMT -5
By the way...doc is a maniac! I use half hard...and for some, deadsoft. I think it'll work if you hold your mouth right.
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Oct 21, 2006 18:51:13 GMT -5
Herm -
Doc is an maniac.
;)S
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