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Post by brad on Mar 5, 2024 11:18:42 GMT -6
I still have to look up the gauges that I don't use regularly as we measure in mm. How large do you want to make the pendant? Will it stay the 1-3/4” you mentioned? 18 ga would be too thick for me, but that's really a matter of taste. The pendent will remain a round 1.75", though I will dome it slightly, over one of my designated door knobs that I absconded from my brother architecture salvage shop. I am afraid of wrapping 18 ga wire around the 18ga or 19ga silver I sawed the round from. I am not sure the wire will subtle enough to wrap without distorting the round silver pendent? What do you think? Thank you, Brad
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Post by caeterle on Mar 5, 2024 11:33:45 GMT -6
I can only talk from my wire wrapping experience and I don't even like to wrap with 19 ga, but I don't have a round form with holes, I have wires which bend more easily. Also I want those wrapping wires to lay flat, so I have to pull accordingly. If you want your wire to lay rather flat, I really think 18 ga is too much if you have to pull hard. It probably depends on the technique as well, though. I feel comfortable with anything between 22 ga (to fill out bigger spaces like in the dragon or snail that I did) and 26 or 28 ga (for example in bezels).
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Post by brad on Mar 5, 2024 18:54:06 GMT -6
Well, by now, you know me. Bull through and see what happens…after I get input from pros like all of you. So I found a 1-1/4” domed disk in my stash, I had made a few years ago. I did not measure to space holes. I just chucked up a bit in my drill press and drilled ahead until o made tge circle. Then I also found a roll of 18ga soft copper wire in a drawer. Much to learn about pulling the wire without kinking, getting it to pass the edge at tge right place etc. I like the prominence of this wire size on a pendent like this, though my new silver pendent will be bigger at 1-3/4”, so 18 ga about right. It took pliers to pull it tight, wherever I actually got it tight. So. I need to carefully mark and drill the holes. Be careful to keep my wire straight and not get it kinky. Use pliers to get the last bit of wire through and tight. Etc etc , eh. Brad
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Post by caeterle on Mar 6, 2024 0:17:50 GMT -6
Well done! I would prefer a smaller gauge for the look, but that's just me. If you like this more prominent look, perfect! I hear you about the kinking, that's exactly one of the problems I have with thicker wire A great training piece for what you want to do. I'm looking forward to seeing the silver one!
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Post by brad on Mar 6, 2024 8:10:33 GMT -6
Thank you. My thought is, that the silver piece I am working on will be 40% larger. And the 18 ga wire will not look quite as fat? I will may consider a slightly small hole, but that might make it more difficult to pull wire through? So, if I were to use gold plated wire , how is its malleability? And, will I end up scratching through the gold while pulling it through the holes? I have not check price and availability of 10-14 karat gold wire in 18-20gs wire. (Next step is to etch in the design, and drill the holes.)
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Post by caeterle on Mar 6, 2024 9:29:17 GMT -6
Brad, it's fine. This is your design and your choice. I don't think I would make the hole very much smaller, though. The slightly bigger hole gives you more room even if your wire is not going in completely straight which I feel helps with the kinking or rather the non kinking. But that's just gut feeling as I have never done anything exactly like this. It will be very interesting to hear about your experience. I would not use gold plated wire. Maybe gold filled? I only worked with 9 ct. gold wire once and I hated doing it as I used it without annealing (I didn't even have a small torch around then), but I just about made it to the finish line on a small piece
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Post by brad on Mar 6, 2024 10:45:07 GMT -6
Brad, it's fine. This is your design and your choice. I don't think I would make the hole very much smaller, though. The slightly bigger hole gives you more room even if your wire is not going in completely straight which I feel helps with the kinking or rather the non kinking. But that's just gut feeling as I have never done anything exactly like this. It will be very interesting to hear about your experience. I would not use gold plated wire. Maybe gold filled? I only worked with 9 ct. gold wire once and I hated doing it as I used it without annealing (I didn't even have a small torch around then), but I just about made it to the finish line on a small piece It is my bad using the term gold plated, I should recognize the distinction and difference. I do mean gold filled. Thank you, for your continued comments and suggestions. Brad
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Post by DawninCal on Mar 6, 2024 14:18:46 GMT -6
I can't imagine how you are going to be able to stitch with 18g unless you have some sort of tool to assist you. 24g or possible 22 would be as high as I'd consider going, but I'd be wrapping with my fingers and have to consider hand strength. The thicker the wire, the less cooperative it is. Regarding gauges, I've worked with wire long enough now that I can usually tell what gauge something is by looking at it. I measure to be sure, but 90% of the time, my original guess was correct. I did find it terrible confusing when I first started that the thicker the wire, the smaller the gauge. It didn't make sense to me then and it doesn't make sense to me now. It' just that now, I'm aware of how wire sizes work, so I don't have to think about it like I did in the early days. Dawn
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Post by DawninCal on Mar 6, 2024 14:21:56 GMT -6
Ooops, my bad. I posted before seeing/noticing the additional comments on Page 2. I'm impressed that you were able to use the 18g. I would not have even attempted that. Nicely done! Dawn
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Post by Irith-Rita on Mar 6, 2024 16:21:55 GMT -6
Nice work. Inspiring
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Post by brad on Mar 7, 2024 12:24:15 GMT -6
I have now, made a paper template of the outer diameter of the pendent, then I drafted an inner ring about 1/8" inside, then using steel point dividers I picked a spread I liked from my mockup and set marks for all the holes-leaving a gap at the top to solder on a chain loop.
First in need to etch piece, then drill or punch the holes, then shape it into a very subtle dome, then wire the border. I also plan to hang maybe three bead drops at the bottom. I am kind of winging it as I go, to achieve perhaps a Arts & Crafts period homage to the Southwest Native Americans.
The whip stitch wiring I did with 18ga soft copper was not too difficult, at least with first attempt. But I am sure to do it better, prettier, more even it will take more care, and difficulty. Checking the cost of Rio grande gold-filled wire, I am leaning toward that. Brad
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Post by DawninCal on Mar 7, 2024 23:46:48 GMT -6
As one who rarely plans much past the initial idea and who wings it most of the time, I admire the time you take planning your work, Brad. I'm sure doing that serves you well and it would me too if I knew where I was going with what I start. I'm looking forward to seeing the end result and I think the mixed metal is going to look great. Dawn
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Post by Irith-Rita on Mar 8, 2024 4:06:40 GMT -6
I didn't punch this similar design on the edges. What I did was create granulations from left over scraps of Sterling Silver. I did that in 2008 with a pair of earrings to match. Of course there is a large variation of hammered disks in all metals. Nothing new under the sun
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Post by brad on Mar 8, 2024 8:38:36 GMT -6
Irith, I like the doming. I have not tried to make silver balls yet, though I am building an adequate box of scrap to do it. Nor have I tried to solder on a ring or row of balls like that. It must be a bit tricky. I recently watched a great video of an Indian or Pakistan area jewelry maker making jewelry, doing it all. pouring silver, pulling wire, making balls etc.
It is fairly long but interesting to watch, IMHO. Brad
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Post by Irith-Rita on Mar 8, 2024 13:20:00 GMT -6
In spite of their far from good working conditions The jewelers in India are perfect jewelers. Thank you for this video. Very interesting and there's a lot to learn from it.
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