zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Nov 21, 2010 17:32:04 GMT -5
At a craft fair this weekend I picked up a commission. I need to deliver a beautiful red/orange Cosmo agate wrapped in gold filled wire next Sat.
On Rio Grande's site, I see 12/20 or 14/20 GF wire. Can someone explain what these numbers mean & recommend which I should buy?
TIA
Lynn
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 21, 2010 20:24:52 GMT -5
I'm not sure exactly what they mean, but I always get the 14/20.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Nov 21, 2010 21:00:26 GMT -5
14/20 would be 14k gold-filled, 20 gauge wire.
Tom
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Post by superioragates on Nov 21, 2010 21:08:27 GMT -5
what Tom said......
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Nov 21, 2010 21:13:40 GMT -5
You can get from 18 - 24 gauge in the 14/20, so 20 is not the gauge. I just Googled & found this: By Federal Law, it has 1/20th by weight layer of 14 karat gold permanently bonded by heavy heat and pressure over a core of base metal such as brass.
Lynn
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Nov 22, 2010 10:36:07 GMT -5
give Rio a call and they will explain that to you
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Post by tkrueger3 on Nov 22, 2010 21:51:04 GMT -5
AHA! I found an explanation somewhere: "Sometimes, you will see a notation next to the Gold-Filled label indicating the relationship between the weight of karat-gold and the weight of the brass core material. For example, if you see the notion "14/20 Gold-Filled," this means that the piece is 1/20th 14 karat gold. The 1/20 notation refers to the ratio of the 14 karat gold layer to the brass layer by weight, which is 5%. What is important here to the jewelry designer is less the content of gold, but rather more the color of the gold-filled piece. 14/20 gf will be more golden, darker, mellow. 12/20 gf will be brighter, brassier, yellower." I like to think I learn something new every day. Tom
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Post by drocknut on Nov 22, 2010 22:14:23 GMT -5
That's good to know Tom, looks like I learned something new today too. Glad Lynn asked about it. I have yet to use my gold fill wire, I'm just too chicken...lol.
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Nov 22, 2010 23:32:29 GMT -5
Sorry Tom, but 14/20 and 12/20 has not nothing to do with gauge, Goverment standards for gold filled is that the gold has to be 1/20 of the total weight, so 14kt gold is 1/20 of the weight. My shipment that came in today is labeled.. Square wire 14/20 GF 22GA. Donna
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Nov 23, 2010 0:33:52 GMT -5
I started my post, then my daughter came to pick up Grandson woke him up packed up his stuff, then finshed my post so I missed that Tom had came back with the information! :blush: Donna
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Post by NatureNut on Nov 23, 2010 7:06:19 GMT -5
Haha, you all rock. Yeah, I remember reading somewhere that straight gold is too brittle to bend, so they have to mix it with other metals.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Nov 23, 2010 16:52:43 GMT -5
In addition to being too brittle, it's too EXPENSIVE.
I remember in the mid 70s when you were first able to buy gold, it was something like $36 an ounce. Times have changed!
I just ordered some 14/20 22 g square & some 21 g half-round from Rio Grande. I've only worked silver so far, so this should be an adventure.
Lynn
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