Jewelry Making – Wire Work
Wire may form the foundation of a piece of jewelry, or it may be applied as a decoration. It is often twisted to add lightness to a design, and can easily be formed into coils or line units of decoration for flat or curved surfaces. Twists and coils of wire can be made of round, half round, or square wire.
Keep the 14 gauge or heavier wire in coils. Wire of a lighter gauge may be wound on spools. If kinks occur in the lighter gauge wire they can be removed by holding the wire ends firmly and the length taut while drawing it over the edge of a wooden bench, or block of wood.
THE JIG
Many of the wire units, coils, and twists shown in this book were made on jigs. The word “jig” is a mechanics’ term given to a device which is used to guide a tool or a material. A jig makes the forming of an article easier during construction and makes the finished pieces mechanically more perfect. When a design re¬quires duplication of parts, a jig is often used. The one shown here was made on a block of wood with nails spaced and ham¬mered into the wood, the nail heads sawed off, and the ends made smooth so the wire units may be formed and removed easily.
Wire unit made on a jig and some of the ways it can be used
Ends turned under to make slides for belts
Drops for necklaces
Visit our other posts to learn more on how to make jewelry.
