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Post by akansan on Nov 11, 2006 19:02:41 GMT -5
Okay, it's time for me to break out my tools again to finish some pieces for Christmas. I'm looking at my wire choices and came up with a couple questions -
I definitely am going to try the square wire this time, but my debate now is between the half-round and just using a smaller guage of full round. I've used 26G round as the binding wires on 22G round, and that seemed to work nicely. Any hints, tricks or "Don't Do It!"s about using something like 28G HH round to bind 22G DS square? I'm having trouble locating half-round smaller than 18G. Maybe 18G would be just fine...but I just don't know enough about using half-round to know for sure.
Advice?
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Post by Tweetiepy on Nov 12, 2006 9:31:47 GMT -5
Half round sits better agains the stone & the wire itself, you get a "flusher" wrap - square wire is da bomb for wrapping I find the wires sit closer together with square. as for size of wire... Doc is watching...  ) Depends on the size of the stone |
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Post by hermatite on Nov 12, 2006 9:54:55 GMT -5
you can get finer guages of wire from riogrande.com. I find their prices very reasonable. And I find guage the only useful measurement. I've never had a problem with it being different sizes and my wraps generally look okaky if i do say so. And tweets completely right about the half hard sitting better against the square wire. I've tried both round and hh and prefer the hh.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 12, 2006 19:49:34 GMT -5
i get mine at riogrande too. i've tried several places and i like their wire best.
kim
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Post by rocklicker on Nov 13, 2006 5:03:43 GMT -5
Not to throw in a monkey with a wrench, but I just started getting my silver from Altamont after meeting them at a show. They have very good prices. Their pricing is a little weird at first. You pay a certain amount on top of the price of silver, usually about $4.70. They are very accomodating and nice.
Steve
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Post by docone31 on Nov 13, 2006 20:07:00 GMT -5
Yeah, doc is watching! I really like a lot of the designs, they are not artsy-crapsy like a lot of newcomers get stuck on. They really portray the stone and make it possible to wear it.
I have had a lot of issues with Rio wire lately. They have been all over the place. I have been with Rio for over 25yrs, now I am looking.
The best wire comes from Tobaks in Brooklyn N.Y. They make it. I either use them again, or Stullers. Tripps comes in behind in my sterling and .999silver.
Now, here is the kicker. I almost exclusively use .030 wire. That is my best seller in earrings, bracelets, pendants, and my original ear cuffs. For those who are stuck on guage, how in the daylights are you gonna order .030? Ever try to get a wire through Indian beads? They are drilled from both ends. Thailand beads are drilled from one end. Ever find the wire too large for the hole on one bead and the rest work?
A design works and works well in a particular size wire. It is a visual issue. 20 Guage, blech, .032 usually, works on items with long straight sides. 22 Guage, .025 is great for items less than 3/4" in size. 24 Guage, .020 works real well on 6mm and under faceted stones.
.030 actually works with everything. You can make matching earrings with the same wire as the wrap.
Sixing the guage and going dimensional is one of the factors that helped me get off the blanket, and doing parties for my friends, which are few, to having a shop.
Never purchase a stone by the carat, never get wire by the guage.
There, I had my rant. You guys are really kicking butt on the wraps. YEAH! I have watched some of us, go from... It is impossible, to look at this one.
Everyone, great work. You should be proud. I sure am, watching all of us. It feels good to belong here.
Rant over, now resume your regular channel.
Guage, guage, guage, guage....The Electricals are coming.
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Post by ladyt on Nov 13, 2006 20:14:56 GMT -5
LOL Thanks Doc!! Tonja  |
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) Depends on the size of the stone
