If you’re a beginner, it can be overwhelming with all the choices presented before you to make a piece of jewelry… or any handmade glass bead project! One of the things you need to know to have a successful project is the type of wire to use for your beading projects. Before buying your wire, if you intend to make a lot of jewelry, from local stores have a look on the internet for supplies. You can, use eBay to find cheap beads,wire, chains, just about anything you need.
Here are few tips to help you make the right decision:
Use 14 to 16 gauge wire (very thick and heavy) if you are going to make a bracelet, free-form shapes, neck-wires, lampshade forms, and napkin rings.
Use 18 gauge wire (thick) if you are going to make your own clasps, string ethnic glass beads and other large bone, wood, or ceramic beads with large holes or wire wrapping candlesticks and chain-making.
Use 20 gauge wire (Medium) if you are going to make ear-wires, headpins and small wire clasps and stringing glass beads. Most base metal headpins and ear-wires are made from 20 gauge wire.
Use 22 gauge wire (medium thin) when 20-gauge is too thick. It is good for stringing Crystals or transparent semi-precious beads including amethyst, quartz and fluorite.
Use a 24 gauge wire (thin) when you are wire wrapping smaller crystals, semi-precious beads and freshwater pearls to chain. You’re going to want to use a wire straightening pliers with this wire when it gets kinks, which it has a tendency to do.
Use a 26 gauge wire (very thin) when you are going to wire wrap beads to tiaras and in wire projects where 24 gauge wire is just too heavy for the beads. In order for this wire to maintain a loop, loops must be wire wrapped closed. Tools with very fine tips should be used with this wire.
Use 28, 30 gauge wire (very, very fine) when wire weaving, crocheting and free form wire wrapping using small beads You should use tools with very fine tips. Also, this wire kinks easily and a wire straightening pliers is required for use with this size wire.
And… to “”wire wrap”” this series up… remember that the higher the number the thinner the wire. So a 26 gauge wire is thinner than a 20 gauge wire. And if you have a spool of unlabeled wire, use a wire gauge to measure it. It may not seem like a dangerous item, but wire cause you some injury so best to get to know some safety tips in jewelry making when working with wire and other tools.
Happy Beading!
Jennifer Thoden shares her love of beads and creativity with beginner beaders and jewelry designers. Her love of color and unique design shows in her bead patterns. Find her bead patterns and tutorials at http://www.beadpatternsonline.com
