Wire question - enamel/sterling/plated

[Petal]

I want to make some wire wrapped necklaces/bracelets with sterling and also some coloured wire I bought from the 'W' supplier. I've already got some .4 & .6 sterling and am about to do another order for some .8 and 1mm wire (all half hard). My questions are:-

1. Do you use coloured wire in your designs, if so which type? I've heard of enamel coated wire? If so, would you then use plated findings? I don't mix my plated designs with sterling findings.
2. I've got .8mm and 1mm on my list, would you add anything else?
3. I like the look of copper, if you used copper, would you then have sterling findings, plated or make copper ones yourself (and then treat the copper to stop it tarnishing).
   Would you use brass?

Thnks in advance guys. BTW, the only way I can anneal at the moment is by using the chamois leather method, as I don't have a kiln or a torch.

Jules x

[agent_44]

I think I would be inclined to use sterling findings with brass, copper or the enamel coated wire, as long as it suited or was part of the design. Though I would also use solid copper or brass as well. It might be worth giving the option of changign the earring findings, as a customer may have a problem wearing the other metals.

I couldn't say about the sizes you were planning on buying, it depends what you want to do, but 0.8mm and 1.0mm seem to be more commonly used sizes of wire so probably a good starting point.

I have to say I am definitelynot convinced by this chamois "annealing method". When annealing silver you have to allow the metal to glow cherry red for it to be properly annealed, which certainly won't happen with this method. You may well find with wire work annealing isn;t necessary though, it's how I started out, and I didn't use a torch for a few years untill I started looking at soldering and other silversmithing techniques.

[Boo]

I'm with you on the annealing with a cloth - it helps to straighten etc., but you need a lot of heat to actually soften silver - more than you could generate with your fingers. If you're wire wrapping, would 1mm soft perhaps not be better?

I personally don't really like silver findings with copper pieces - unless the piece is mixed metals already. I tend to make my own and try and get them to match the rest of the piece. I like combining silver and copper design-wise, but different coloured findings just looks like not having your handbag matching your shoes to me. Same with brass. But I have a bit of a thing about wanting to make everything on the piece that I can myself and call it 'entirely hand crafted'.

I do offer the option of changing copper earwires - as not everyone could get on with them and I have occasionally changed to silver or gold filled (but not as often as I might have expected to) - but then I tend to oxidise silver rather than have them shiny next to copper - oxidised silver next to antiqued copper doesn't look vastly different - especially if I re-oxidise the copper and taper the colours to match. Most of my copper gets antiqued anyway.

I don't seal copper, I give a care leaflet on how to care for copper - people can either let it naturally darken, or polish it if they prefer the look.

[Petal]

I think I would be inclined to use sterling findings with brass, copper or the enamel coated wire, as long as it suited or was part of the design. Though I would also use solid copper or brass as well. It might be worth giving the option of changign the earring findings, as a customer may have a problem wearing the other metals.

I couldn't say about the sizes you were planning on buying, it depends what you want to do, but 0.8mm and 1.0mm seem to be more commonly used sizes of wire so probably a good starting point.

I have to say I am definitelynot convinced by this chamois "annealing method". When annealing silver you have to allow the metal to glow cherry red for it to be properly annealed, which certainly won't happen with this method. You may well find with wire work annealing isn;t necessary though, it's how I started out, and I didn't use a torch for a few years untill I started looking at soldering and other silversmithing techniques.

Thanks Lucinda for your feedback. Yes, I think the chamois leather annealing method is really a last resort thing for me, as I don't have the other equipment yet and would want to move onto using them when I've gained a bit more confidence.

I like the colours of the enamelled wire and the look it could produce, but am not sure whether you professional guys would regard using it in a design as an item of quality or is it something that you look at and say not THAT stuff - yuk!?

Honest feedback please!!!

Love
Jules x

[Boo]

I think you could anneal in the oven or over your gas flame, I'm sure I've seen instructions on that - but I've not needed it myself as I just torch it.

I only really anneal where I'm doing a design that is hammered, then the flat bit needs shaping, so I've hardened it, but then need to re-work it so soften in again. I've never really needed to anneal wire for any wrapping work - for many things, using soft wire to start with is much easier - it just depends on your particular design.

[Di Sandland]

The problem with enamel wires, Jules, is that they can look very tatty very quickly! The cut ends can flake and the enamelling can crack as you twist and turn it. I have a cupboard full of it because it looks so nice on the reel but whenever I've thought about using it, I've thought 'nah, looks tacky.'

Jules, please remember this is my personal opinion and not based on anything concrete at all.

[agent_44]

Personally I wouldn't, but I am quite fussy about alternative materials in jewellery. I think if the bulk of a piece was silver, I could cope with some of the enamelled wire, as a coluored accent for example, but please remember that's just my opinion. It would be good to see what others think too!

[Petal]

Personally I wouldn't, but I am quite fussy about alternative materials in jewellery. I think if the bulk of a piece was silver, I could cope with some of the enamelled wire, as a coluored accent for example, but please remember that's just my opinion. It would be good to see what others think too!

Sorry I haven't been around for a bit, I had to finish a piece of jewellery for someone who'll be here any minute.

Thanks Di, Boo and Lucinda for your very useful replies. Much appreciated. It looks as though enamelled wire looks nice on the reel, but doesn't work that well or look professional in practice. It was an impulse buy (how many of those have we had! I might just use them for practice in diff colours, or maybe make up some chrismassey things (I've got two red wine coloured coils), but as you say ...

It would be good to see what others think of coloured enamelled wire???

Jules x

[Solunar Silver Studio]

Isn't the enamelled wire copper cored? I think, if it is, that I would be inclined to use it with copper wire and findings so if there was a chipping/flaking issue it would be less noticeable. It would also have a subtler, more mellow look to it...but I'm not so sure how it would look with 'antiqued' copper...I think it would be better with copper coloured copper!!

The only time I remember using enamelled wire in the past was...wait for it....making beaded Christmas decorations with a group from MENCAP!!!! In that context it did go rather well with the gold and silver plated plastic beads we were using!! And everyone was really happy with the glitzy look of what they made...but I'm not so sure I would put it with sterling.

[Kalorlo]

For copper and brass I would make my own findings. (This is something I'm meaning to practice!). I think you've mostly got the sizes covered - I quite like 1.2mm as well. I would and do use brass - I like it better than gold.

Coloured wire - I've only actually used this for trees, where it's fine if you scratch it a bit because you want a gnarly look. It might be ok if you were very careful and very mindful of the ends - I definitely wouldn't pair it with sterling though.

It'd be good for Christmas decorations.