Beading Wire
With the many varieties of beading wire available it is easy for you to become overwhelmed. Finishes and materials include silver, gold, brass and copper. Plus variations of gold and silver, including sterling silver, silver-plated, gold-filled and gold-plated. More expensive beading wire are commonly available by the ounce or foot whereas copper and brass wires can be packed in 10 to 40 yard spools.. Brass and copper are easier to manipulate so along with being a cheaper option are easier to practise with when starting out..
Beading wire hardness
A wire’s temper or malleability can be best described by its hardness. Half-hard and dead-soft are the two main categories of sterling silver. Dead-soft is used when you want to bend the wire with your fingers. The half-hard wire is slightly stiffer and will hold it’s shape better. Hammering a peice of beading wire will flatten it and make it a more ridgid piece, although you will find that most wires will harden a bit as they are manipulated..
Wire Shapes
Wire shapes include half-round, round, triangle, square and twisted, and are available in most types of beading wire.. Choosing the shape of wire required will be easier if you know the type of style you want to have.Wire Gauge Scale
The diameter or tickness is measured in wire by the gauge. Sizes 12 to 28 are the most common sizes used for beading and jewelry making. The lower the gauge number is the bigger the thickness of the wire will be.
Gauge 28
This wires, and thinner wires, are most commonly used for delicate applications such as crochet and twining. If you have beads, gemstones or pearls with very small holes the this may be your only option for wire.
24-26 Gauge Wire
This size wire is sometimes called ultra fine wire.. It is sometimes used for beaded flowers, wire crochet and wire wrapping. Alongside beading small gems, pearls and beads.
20 – 22 Gauge Wire
This wire is an all-purpose wire and used for many findings such as loops jump rings, head pins and eye pins. This gauge is available in dead-soft or half-hard.
Gauge 16 – 18
The medium thickness of this gauge wire makes it fairly sturdy.. The regular use for this wire is for large jump rings, chain mail and clasps.
Gauge 12 – 14
This wire is only available in the hardness – dead-soft and is best used for wire shapes that are unsupported such as neck wires and bangle bracelets.
For bead supplies in the UK check out our website or visit our blog to see the new beads and findings that we have available!
