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Thread: What tools do I need to work wire?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Malmesbury, Wiltshire
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    Default What tools do I need to work wire?

    After my little bit of soul searching over quality this morning and all your helpful responses I have decided to take the plunge and start actually using silver and copper findings made by me.
    I've never done it before so I have no idea what kit I would need to get me started and I'm hoping it won't be too costly.
    If I want to make ear wires and simple clasps what would I need?


    This style ear wire I would like to be able to make for myself.
    CEWR12- Copper Earwires 24pieces (12 pair) - Handmade by E2SSupplies on Etsy

    Or this
    SEWA4- Sterling Silver Almond Earwires 8 pieces (4pr) by E2SSupplies on Etsy

    Am I being too optimistic as a total noob?

    And if I wanted to solder copper and silver what would I need?

    Thanks in advance for your patients, there may well be a lot more questions coming from here in the near future!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
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    Default

    Hi Pandanimal,

    the tools i personally use every day and wouldent be without are

    Snipe nosed pliers
    half round pliers, these dont mark the metal and
    flat nosed pliers preferably two pairs for jump rings
    a selction of needlefiles, to smooth the end of earwires you will just need a flat one
    a good pair of metal shears, worth spending some money on these

    medium, easy solder
    small torch 19.99 from cooksons
    flux
    saftey pickle although there have been a couple of post on this and you can use other things aswell

    i wouldent use anything over 08 for earwires some of those that you linked to looked awfully thick

    hope this helps and i am sure other members will add to the list of things i have forgotten or that they use to

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    397

    Default

    To make those ear wires I use a piece of cheap wooden dowell, a pair of memory wire cutters (as they cut flushly) and a pair of round nose pliers.

    You might also want to get a pair of nylon jawed pliers too.

    The second pair are the just pair with a bit of pressure applied at both ends to make it fold in the middle.

    Can be done very quickly, easily and what's more very cheaply

  4. #4
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    Default

    Definitely not too optimistic, I expect you could do far better than the examples you have given!

    A decent set of pliers as described is probably the most important thing for wire work, plus cutters, also needle files as Emerald says. If you don't want to spend money on exoensive flush cutters just yet you can always file the ends of the cut wire with you rneedle files. To round the end of your earwires you can use the needle files or get a cup burr and use in a rotary tool if you have one. Using one of these it's a bit easier and quicker to get a perfect rounded end. A steel bench block or min anvil would be a good investment along with a nylon or rawhide hammer for shaping and owrk hardening your wire.

    Regarding wire widths, I tend to use 0.7mm wire as a couple of customers have fourn 0.8mm a bit thick in the past.

    For soldering I personally would get some hard solder as well as what had already been mentioned, plus again if you are on a budget you can pick up a decent torch in B&Q for less than a tenner.
    Last edited by agent_44; 14-09-2009 at 07:13 PM.
    Lucinda

  5. #5
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    Go for it Pandy, you will find it so easy hun, you are very talented xx
    Su' xx

    My FB fanpage -https://www.facebook.com/CintaHandCraftedJewellery
    My Website www.cintahandcraftedjewellery.co.uk

    I want to learn so much, and i want to know it all NOW!!!:p

    One day i will arrive

    A huggle a day makes the bad stuff go away

  6. #6
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    Pandanimal - if you want to come over and have a quick look-see at my tools and how to make this sort of stuff, you're welcome - and only about 15 minutes away. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to

  7. #7
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    Malmesbury, Wiltshire
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    Default

    I have been looking at cooksons this morning and popping things into my basket.
    But when I got to files they have different "cuts" 0 through 4 by the look of it. As well as different shapes. What would I need as a beginner please?

  8. #8
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    I have a set of different shapes in cut 2...I think thats about average and seems fine for rounding off ends of wire on clasps etc.
    I could be wrong tho

  9. #9
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    Default

    Thanks Trudi! There seems to be a lot of cut 2 files.

  10. #10
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    yes 2 is a good alround size x

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