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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 12, 2009 16:45:07 GMT -5
I will soon attempt my first wire wrap (based on BikerRandy's tutorial) and have found a site with a few choices of affordable wire for beginners.
Copper is an obvious choice, but I can also order Nickel/Silver and Yellow Brass in the square and half-round sections.
Could someone shed some light on the advantages or disadvantages of copper, nickel/silver and yellow brass? Also, does "dead soft" and "half hard" mean the same thing for all wire, or do I also have to make some adjustments there?
Thanks for any help you have to offer.
150FromFundy
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Sparky
starting to spend too much on rocks
Still diggin'...
Member since October 2007
Posts: 147
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Post by Sparky on Mar 13, 2009 6:35:56 GMT -5
Heya 150, The main disadvantage, for people like me, would be skin allergies due to nickel content in the wire. I've never used nickel-silver due to my allergy, but, I have found that copper and brass are great to learn wrapping. Square and dead soft are really important for learning and practicing. I use square, dead soft wire most of the time. Square is easier to control and dead soft can be pretty forgiving. You may find that half hard can give your fingers quite a workout. Whenever I've used half hard, my fingers were sore for days. The wrap in my avatar is pet wood wrapped in yellow brass Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about wire hardness will chime in about the last part of your question. Anyway, just my Hope this helps. Good luck with your wrapping and post pics when you're done! ;D Rus
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Post by 150FromFundy on Mar 13, 2009 6:46:57 GMT -5
Sparky:
Thanks for the input on the nickel/silver wire. I had forgotten that many peolpe are sensitive to nickel and it causes many peoles skin to react. I will rule out that choice. Brass still looks like an option.
Thanks.
150FromFundy
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 13, 2009 6:50:51 GMT -5
Copper dead-soft for the square wire (22 gauge) , and for your binding wraps use half-round, half hard copper (21 gauge). I just got some for my daughter from Brandywine, really cheap!! For 50ft of each it was less than $20 with shipping included. If the copper isn't bright enough, you can run it through a rag with some Mothers polish. You can get it from any auto parts store. Nu-Finish works too. (or Number 7, Turtle wax polish, McQuires.......)
Also- I haven't tried the brass wire, but it probably works the same.
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Sparky
starting to spend too much on rocks
Still diggin'...
Member since October 2007
Posts: 147
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Post by Sparky on Mar 13, 2009 7:51:05 GMT -5
Randy is completely right about the wire gauges.
When I want to brighten up my wire before and while I'm working with it, I put just a touch of red jeweler's rouge on a polishing cloth and give it a quick wipe or two. That usually does the trick for me. Randy's ideas for the other types of polish are good, but I've never tried any of them.
As far as brass, even dead soft can be a little stiffer to work with than others, but it seems to work well for me when I want to make a "prototype" wrap...that is to say, a wrap I've never tried before. I usually try it in brass first before going on to the more expensive wire.
I'm trying to get out of that habit though because it wastes my brass...lol Some wraps look good in brass though.
Just a few thoughts.
Rus
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Post by creativeminded on Mar 13, 2009 11:17:44 GMT -5
Check out www.parawire.com it has tarnish resistant silver and gold, I use it alot in my chainmail jewelry and have had no complaints from people with allergies. I have some friends that are sensitive to nickle and they can wear my jewelry. When it comes to brass unless you are able to get tarnish resistant you will be happy in the beginning, however as it ages it get dull. Now if you are looking for affordable sterling silver and gold fill wire check out www.firemountaingems.com That is where I usually get mine. Tami
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kjohn0102
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2006
Posts: 774
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Post by kjohn0102 on Mar 13, 2009 11:23:57 GMT -5
Brass and copper are definitely fun to work with and make for a nice organic look to your work. Copper and brass can turn some skin green-doesn't for me.
kj
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