Almost ready to wrap,waiting for UPS

[buckwheat69]

Well I just placed my wire and findings, and some beads order.(and a few tools). around 12 Oz's of various wires and sizes, and shapes. Thanks to that most excellent how to by Mr. Biker Randy. after looking at that a few times, off to Rio Grande i go. Keep in mind I have no clue what I'm doing. after comparing about two dozens sites that have wire, Like randy says the most for your money. I sat down and calculated the cost for each site I went to. Rio without a doubt gives the best deal oz to oz. so just waiting very impatiently for my order to arrive. I have also picked up what is on display on the how to(plus a few extra one that look pretty cool.)
along with some other things I couldn't live without lol.

anyway my question is you use the dead soft square to wrap the stone with. could you use half hard? Or is it to hard to get good bends and such.
was just thinking that half hard would retain it's shape better? probably can't get the HH to take such tight bends..

well any suggestions or input and tips greatly appreciated.
any special tools to look out for??

ooppsss on more anyone work with the square wire that is twisted for you. I bought some and wondering if any special handling's or cautions

thanks for learning me in advanced and hats off to you biker randy for the tutorial you make it look soo easy.

Steve

[Tigger]

Hey Steve. Using Half-hard wire to bind the cab is ok but it's much easier with dead soft. Dead soft seems to be more "forgiving" if you make a mistake or something doesn't quit go the way you wanted. Your fingers will be happier with dead soft. Also as you work the wire, it gets harder and retains it shape very well. As far as pre-twisted wire, I don't know. I get the dead soft and twist it myself with a pen vise. It becomes tougher to work with but much easier than twisting half-hard.

For tools, you need flush wire cutter, smooth round & flat needle nose pliers, (sand the tools to remove any marks because it will marr the wire) and your fingers. You may also need a small file to smooth the tips of the wire.

As far as the rest goes, just learn the basic and use you imagination from there.

Once your hooked, your hooked! LOL

Tigger

[buckwheat69]

oh yeah i didn't think about work hardening. and I see about the more forgiving makes since.

I got those pliers and I also grabbed chain nose, half round half flat, i also found these pliers one is stepped on one side and the other is concave,
the other pair are the same but no step just one chain nose and one concaved. they where listed in wire wrapping tools so I figured I must need them. I'm sure I'll learn what they are for as I go. lol
Thanks for the tid bits every bit helps. ( I've been watching videos anywhere I can find them).

Steve

[sitnwrap]

The dead soft will be a lot easier to deal with especially when doing the bail. I started out with what I thought was dead soft. I just never asked my local supplier to verify and come to find out all this time it was half hard. I just switched to the dead soft and it is so much easier.

Wish you lots of fun and looking forward to your pics.

[kjohn0102]

Always have to confirm with your vendor that the wire is dead soft. I just got a bunch from Thunderbird (great sale price) that was supposed to be DS, but not according to my fingers!
Nothing special about the twisted wire. I use it more for bracelets than wrapping cabs.

Also, if you have a tumbler, use it with steel shot and a little borax (and water, of course!) to polish and harden. I throw everything silver that I wrap into the tumbler for about an hour, and the shine is amazing! Also burnishes and can take out some scratches.

KJ

[buckwheat69]

Wow really in the tumbler( pard my ignorance). that wont disfigure it.
OK what size shot (boy do I got a lot of learning to do) lol. I got the thumblers duel 3lber. (which started this whole dilemma I'm in) lol

Thanks sitnwrap. just wanting to know why ?? and why not and how come. I will defiantly use the DS. I did get some HH in each shape so I can try a few bracelets too. My wifes eyes keep getting bigger and bigger.
she was watching me order the wire and that. (What is that for, thats an awful lot your spending on that junk) But honey look what I can Make YOU.
OH OK well in that case do you need anything else. LOL no more problems from her!!

thanks for the input
Steve

[damammy]

Hi Steve, when I took classes we were taught to use Half Hard. It works well, you just have to work a little harder and your fingers hurt a little more. I have started using dead soft as I can get more swirls at top, and soft is easier to use around bends like on free form.
There are things I still feel need half hard so I always keep both.
Donna

[Bikerrandy]

Steve- I've learned that using half-hard (half round) for the bindings will produce cleaner, straighter bindings. I use dead soft square wire for the wrap.
Oh- thanks for the kind words, and good luck!

[creativeminded]

I am like Randy, I use half-hard (half round) wire for the binding and dead soft square for the actual wrap. I have used half-hard on the wrap and have never really like the results because the wire just wouldn't flow the way I wanted it to. Especially when I try to make the loops the half hard tends to bend at angles instead of flowing into the loops.
Tami

[buckwheat69]

I kinda figured it wouldn't flow as nice as they DS thanks for all the input
I'm just tryin to learn the pros and cons to things. I tend to do things the hard way, so I have learned to ask questions (cuts down on blisters and time ) lol. I was thinking the HH would be good for bracelets, connectors and jump rings ect.

Thank you all and keep it coming im soakin it up like a sponge!
Ups tracking says it's in GA, in transit to St.pete will be delivered tomorrow.

Cough,cough. oh boy i think im coming down with a freak flo bug cough
have to call in sick LOL I feel warm cough

Steve