What is half hard sterling silver wire used for?

What is half hard sterling silver wire used for?

Half-hard wire is malleable; however, it will maintain an intricate shape under moderate stress. It is useful for weight-bearing parts of wire-wrapped jewelry. You can also harden half-hard wire so it can be used for an element that may be subjected to high stress, such as a clasp.

What is the difference between hard and soft silver?

Dead soft wire is very malleable, which makes it easy to work with when bending and wrapping it. Half hard wire, on the other hand, has been tempered to provide some stiffness to it and is less likely to break when manipulating it.

Does Dead soft wire hold its shape?

For most practical purposes, soft and dead soft temper wires of the same gauge are interchangeable. One caveat is that dead soft wire does not hold its shape as well, so you may need to wrap an extra coil or two when using thin gauges to ensure your piece holds securely.

What wire is best for wire wrapping?

Copper wire is my favorite wire for wire-wrapping. I bought 18 gauge and 24 gauge which was enough to get started. Copper wire is also widely available online. If you want “real” copper wire, make sure that it’s labelled as either “bare”, “raw” or “pure”.

What is the difference between half hard wire and dead soft wire?

Dead Soft is the most flexible, pliable and easiest to bend. It works great for wire wrapping, and forming spirals and free flowing designs. It will not make a right angle. Half Hard gives resistance to forming, not easily shaped into those free formed spirals or designs.

What wire is best for wire-wrapping?

How do you harden dead soft sterling silver wire?

To harden the metal, you will be applying heat to the metal; whenever you apply heat to sterling, surround it with nitrogen, argon or forming gas or cover it with flux to prevent the metal from oxidizing. Note that fine silver cannot be heat-hardened.

What is the difference between hard wire and soft wire?

Soft wire is easy to bend and shape, but the finished product may be bent out of shape if squeezed. Hard wire is difficult to bend but makes permanent shapes.

What type of wire is best for making rings?

Use 30-gauge or 28-gauge (0.25 to 0.32 mm) wire for delicate jewelry making. It is great for wire weaving, rings, bead work and making small chains. Use fine jewelry making tools for this gauge.