Expert tips and tricks for making beautiful wire jewelry are at your fingertips–anywhere you go. Wire Jewelry VISUAL Quick Tips has the answers you need. With detailed color photos and concise instructions, it shows you how to use wirework tools and supplies to make attractive necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings using the hottest techniques: making jump rings, head pins, and eye pins; creating and connecting drops and links; making clasps and ear wires; twisting wire; wrapping within a framework; creating wire chains; using a wire jig; and more.
Table of Contents:
1 Jewelry Making Wire 2
Types of Jewelry Wire 4
Jewelry Wire Metals 5
Wire Shape 10
Wire Gauge 11
Wire Temper 12
Wire Finishes and Treatments 13
Wire Care 14
2 Wirework Tools 16
Pliers 18
Wire Cutters 22
Hammers 24
Bench Blocks and Bench Pins 26
Mandrels 27
Wire Jigs 28
Wire-Twisting Tools 29
Jeweler’s Saw 30
Needle Files 32
Measuring Tools 33
3 Safety, Storage, and Organization 34
Safety Equipment 36
Ergonomics and Comfort 37
Wire Storage 38
Tool Storage 39
4 Basic Wirework 40
Make and Use Jump Rings 42
Hammer Jump Rings 49
Make Head Pins 50
Make Eye Pins 55
Create Wire-and-Bead Drops 59
Create Wire-and-Bead Links 66
Connect Wire-and-Bead Links 70
Make Basic Wire Clasps 74
Make Ear Wires 84
5 More Advanced Techniques 88
Make a Wrapped Briolette Drop 90
Twist Wire 97
Use Coiled Wraps 103
Wrap Beads within a Wire Frame 110
Wrap Beads onto a Wire Frame 123
Make a Wire Finger Ring 125
Weave with the Herringbone Wrap 132
More Advanced Wire Clasps 139
6 Wire Chains 148
Make a Double Jump Ring Chain 150
Make a Double Wrapped Loop Chain 152
Make an “S” Hook Chain 153
Construct a Double Spiral Chain 154
Weave the Byzantine Chain 158
7 Using a Wire Jig 162
Basic Technique 164
Make Connectors Using a Jig 166
Form Ear Wires Using a Jig 184
Wire Jig Patterns 190
Appendix: References and Resources 194
American Wire Gauge Chart 196
Coils-per-Inch Reference Charts 198
Byzantine Jump Ring Size Chart 200
Millimeter and Inch Conversions 201
Oxidization Methods 202
Polishing Techniques 204
Resources 205
Index 208
