Ty. Great info. I'm new at wire wrapping. That was the most I have seen on YOU TUBE just talking about the wire, not just manipulating it for design. I hope as I scroll through your videos there will be others.✌️♥️
I always thought it was just called a wire twister but it is called a pin vise. There are many different kinds of tools out there that do the same thing. If you google wire twister you will see them all.
awwww! I like you! Who knew it coukd be so easy to harden wire! between learning how to hammer wire, and now with your tutorial....I'm good to go! Now I don't have to go run around town or wait for an online order to come in to make these awesome earrings that are dancing around in my head! I get idea for designs and must do them straight away, or ASAP! I should just practice drawing so I could put them on paper before I forget or take something simple and pretty and over think it. I try to stay current with new methods or tweaks one can do with wire. Now the trick is....getting good wire! ughhhh! Thank you for sharing! !!
I make pendants for necklaces and I’m planning to sell them but if you sleep in the jewelry the fasten I guess you’d call it will break. Is there a good way to keep the fasten from breaking or a way to harden the dead soft wire? Dead soft wire makes for great detailed pieces. Thank you for your help!
If you are on Facebook I recommend joining the group Jewelry Makers and Bead Lovers, I own the group. That is a multifaceted question and you will get much better and thorough answers there.
I want to make a 6-1 Persian bracelet using 999 silver. The only pure silver wire I have found is dead soft. Will this procedure work on fine silver? Also can you twist it two turns one direction then reverse two turns until hard and maybe get less distortion in the wire? Thank you.
This is just what I needed. I bought a bunch of wire before I knew there were different hardness levels. It's too soft. I got myself an anvil to work on that's two sided. Stainless steel and rubber, now I just need a metal hammer since I already have that black and yellow one. I was also gifted some cheep wire twisters and have yet to get them to work, but I just might not have done it right. Long story short, I was excited for my wire and made my mom a ring and it keeps bending out of place. At what stage in the ring making process is it best to harden the wire?
And you can use a piece of flat wood and roll the wire under it back and forth. Like a piece of a wooden frame would be great. I put a piece of tape on the end so I dont get splinter. I need to go find the video so I can list it here then you can see it yourself.
Hi, A fascinating video, I'm new to all this as you may have worked out already. The steel block that you forgot the name of looks ideal for my needs. I've bought mini anvils from Amazon and Ebay all stating that it's ideal for watchmaking and craft's and made of cast iron! Every one of them (must be 10 or more) has dented when hammering with a 2oz hammer and Kanthal A1 wire, the shape of the wire has dented the surface of the Anvil! Very frustrating so I'm looking for an alternative. What would you recommend? Any websites, name & grade of steel etc would be very handy. The hardest steel I would be shaping is 316 Stainless Steel wire to 1.6 diameter (welding rods). I've been using a dapping block but there's very little room between the half domes! I'm house bound so it's very difficult to see before I buy and therefore have to rely on the info in the amazon or eBay listings! I never thought how exciting wire can be when shaping and working it but it's soooooooooo frustrating when it's harder than my collection of really soft anvils! Loving your video's and SUBSCRIBED 👍😉👌
Etsy and Ebay have tools from large jewelry supply companies. Amazon has cheap goods from China where they don't care about their reputations. Both Etsy and Ebay sellers value their feedback reputation and are usually jewelers themselves, so I would direct you here for best jeweler's block. A watch block does not need such hardness. Steel and Cast Iron are both high in compressive strengths with steel having higher tensile strength. Why not resurface your existing dented blocks? You can grind down the metal with aluminum oxide/ ceramic/ zircon sandpaper in a handheld orbital sander. DeWalt makes a good one. Cheaper tools would be Makita or Ryobi. Make sure its a random orbit sander NOT a palm sander, and that it has variable speed. Ceramic and Zircon sandpaper will cut steel. You can polish up the metal block with an angle grinder (Bosch 5 inch paddle switch, variable speed, leave-on switch refurbished Amazon $79). Use 4 - 4.5 inch crimped wire cup brush from Harbor Freight $5. This wire cup will polish up the block, might remove some dents or scratches. Finish up with progressively finer sandpaper till you reach 400 grade. Then just polish it up. A nice anti rust coating is from Lowes - Loctite Rust Neutralizer Spray - good for cast iron. Dries clear. Bonds rust to metal and prevents further rusting.
Hi funny video first off. Thank you for the smiles. In making hair pieces to use with stix. What size/gauge do you suggest. The ones I've made are still soft after hammering the crap out of them.
OMG! I am sooooo happy to hear someone else is terrified of their tumbler too! I spent years, frustrated, trying to get the money together to get this device that all the other artisans were using so that I could use this like the experts do. I got it a few years ago and I still haven't used it! I've got my steel shot! But I haven't used it. And yes, I'm terrified of putting work in there with beads on it because I can't imagine how it won't break them! Anyway, I just had to pause your vid to reply to that part. *laugh*
you should not put beads in your tumbler with steel shot...it's only good for metal jewelry. If you add beads afterwards, like dangles, that is another story...
It should. When hammering plated you might lose the finish though. It can crack off or has to potential to. Test it out with a piece and hammer a bit more gently.
Hi ive been trying to make copper ear wires, they say 20 Gauge is preferable (I prefer 18G) I find 20G is still a bit to "soft" after hammering, I much prefer the 18GAny one else find this or is it just me?and is 18G really to thick for ears? they are fine in my ears :-) but I want to make my own to sell my jewellery
Great video Szarka! Thanks for the tutorial, personally I am scared to put anything but wire in a tumbler. I so want to learn to use one... Hope you get better soon!
Well the wood will give so yes it will harden it but the metal hammer may cause the metal to change shape somewhat, grab some wire and give it a try until you get the effect you want.
Thanks for this video. I've never seen the twisting method to harden wire. Will definitely try this. Guess I need to buy a tumbler as well. (Oh, and not a single cough in the video, lol)
Hi,Thankyou so much for this video...It was very helpful and interesting...Hope you are feeling better soon and look forward to seeing your videos in 2013....Karenlee..From Australia.
Hello love your video, in hardening wire using a trumbler , say I was making a expandable bangle , would I make the bangle then place it in a tumbler, or harden the wire before I made the bangle ? I know this is a dumb question, I just want to do it right. Thank u so much
Thanks so much for all the great information. I have been looking forever for a tutorial on how to make petal or lotus shaped earrings. You know it looks like a v at the bottom and then rounds at the top like a hoop. Do you think you could show us that technique? thank you, get well.
Different metals harden in different ways. If you can figure out the metal it's made from and do a Google search on annealing and hardening that particular metal you might get somewhere.
Thank you for this, but can you tell me how to harden homemade jump rings. Mine always open whenever I try and I have been using the bench block and a hammer. Should I try using leather?
Tumble anything to harden the metal. That said, you can't expect an UN-soldered jump ring to hold it's own against a good pull. I recommend soldering your jump rings. Good luck!
I have no problems making jump rings that will hold. The secret is a heavy enough gauge of wire and the diameter of the wire. Barbara they will open when you hammer them and then you have to close them again. Watch more of my videos and you will see how and what I mean. RUclips won't let me post links.
Thank you! I just started making wire-wrapped jewelry and have been using soft-tempered half round wire. I'm so glad to learn that it doesn't take much pounding with a soft hammer to harden it.
Love this post because of the depth of the information. I really appreciate when I'm told the science behind hows like these.
Ty. Great info. I'm new at wire wrapping. That was the most I have seen on YOU TUBE just talking about the wire, not just manipulating it for design. I hope as I scroll through your videos there will be others.✌️♥️
"...how do I turn thi--"
Heh.
Good info, thanks!!
I find you can harden aluminum a bit but mostly it just become brittle. The trick with aluminum is use a much larger gauge.
I always thought it was just called a wire twister but it is called a pin vise. There are many different kinds of tools out there that do the same thing. If you google wire twister you will see them all.
seems like I am finding you late in the game, but great info on hardening wire!!
Oh thanks
Mazkd once you've made the shape your only option for hardening would be to tumble it!
Awesome and really helpful!! Thanks a million :)
thanks very informative....I've been looking for a way to harden my wire when I make jump rings for anklets and bracelets
I know this is an older video (and I would love to see you make more!) But when you heat up wire, does that make it softer?
It does when working with Sterling and copper. You have to hear it to a certain temperature to anneal. Look up videos on annealing wire.
awwww! I like you! Who knew it coukd be so easy to harden wire! between learning how to hammer wire, and now with your tutorial....I'm good to go! Now I don't have to go run around town or wait for an online order to come in to make these awesome earrings that are dancing around in my head! I get idea for designs and must do them straight away, or ASAP! I should just practice drawing so I could put them on paper before I forget or take something simple and pretty and over think it. I try to stay current with new methods or tweaks one can do with wire. Now the trick is....getting good wire! ughhhh! Thank you for sharing! !!
I love this video!
Thank you🙃
Hopefully by now you're feeling better....
This video is 10 years old 😂
Never knew the twisting method... Gotta try that :)
I make pendants for necklaces and I’m planning to sell them but if you sleep in the jewelry the fasten I guess you’d call it will break. Is there a good way to keep the fasten from breaking or a way to harden the dead soft wire? Dead soft wire makes for great detailed pieces. Thank you for your help!
If you are on Facebook I recommend joining the group Jewelry Makers and Bead Lovers, I own the group. That is a multifaceted question and you will get much better and thorough answers there.
That’s so cool and all, but how are your natural nails so long? 😮
I really don't know
I want to make a 6-1 Persian bracelet using 999 silver. The only pure silver wire I have found is dead soft. Will this procedure work on fine silver? Also can you twist it two turns one direction then reverse two turns until hard and maybe get less distortion in the wire?
Thank you.
This is just what I needed. I bought a bunch of wire before I knew there were different hardness levels. It's too soft. I got myself an anvil to work on that's two sided. Stainless steel and rubber, now I just need a metal hammer since I already have that black and yellow one. I was also gifted some cheep wire twisters and have yet to get them to work, but I just might not have done it right.
Long story short, I was excited for my wire and made my mom a ring and it keeps bending out of place.
At what stage in the ring making process is it best to harden the wire?
And you can use a piece of flat wood and roll the wire under it back and forth. Like a piece of a wooden frame would be great. I put a piece of tape on the end so I dont get splinter. I need to go find the video so I can list it here then you can see it yourself.
You have gorgeous hands, how do you keep them so nice through all that wire work?
I really don't know. I'm not much into taking care of them. They just stay that way.
Hi, A fascinating video, I'm new to all this as you may have worked out already. The steel block that you forgot the name of looks ideal for my needs. I've bought mini anvils from Amazon and Ebay all stating that it's ideal for watchmaking and craft's and made of cast iron! Every one of them (must be 10 or more) has dented when hammering with a 2oz hammer and Kanthal A1 wire, the shape of the wire has dented the surface of the Anvil! Very frustrating so I'm looking for an alternative. What would you recommend? Any websites, name & grade of steel etc would be very handy.
The hardest steel I would be shaping is 316 Stainless Steel wire to 1.6 diameter (welding rods). I've been using a dapping block but there's very little room between the half domes! I'm house bound so it's very difficult to see before I buy and therefore have to rely on the info in the amazon or eBay listings!
I never thought how exciting wire can be when shaping and working it but it's soooooooooo frustrating when it's harder than my collection of really soft anvils!
Loving your video's and SUBSCRIBED 👍😉👌
Look into Eurotools and buy the highest quality.
Etsy and Ebay have tools from large jewelry supply companies. Amazon has cheap goods from China where they don't care about their reputations. Both Etsy and Ebay sellers value their feedback reputation and are usually jewelers themselves, so I would direct you here for best jeweler's block. A watch block does not need such hardness. Steel and Cast Iron are both high in compressive strengths with steel having higher tensile strength.
Why not resurface your existing dented blocks?
You can grind down the metal with aluminum oxide/ ceramic/ zircon sandpaper in a handheld orbital sander. DeWalt makes a good one. Cheaper tools would be Makita or Ryobi. Make sure its a random orbit sander NOT a palm sander, and that it has variable speed. Ceramic and Zircon sandpaper will cut steel.
You can polish up the metal block with an angle grinder (Bosch 5 inch paddle switch, variable speed, leave-on switch refurbished Amazon $79). Use 4 - 4.5 inch crimped wire cup brush from Harbor Freight $5. This wire cup will polish up the block, might remove some dents or scratches. Finish up with progressively finer sandpaper till you reach 400 grade. Then just polish it up.
A nice anti rust coating is from Lowes - Loctite Rust Neutralizer Spray - good for cast iron. Dries clear. Bonds rust to metal and prevents further rusting.
Hi funny video first off. Thank you for the smiles.
In making hair pieces to use with stix. What size/gauge do you suggest.
The ones I've made are still soft after hammering the crap out of them.
OMG! I am sooooo happy to hear someone else is terrified of their tumbler too! I spent years, frustrated, trying to get the money together to get this device that all the other artisans were using so that I could use this like the experts do. I got it a few years ago and I still haven't used it! I've got my steel shot! But I haven't used it. And yes, I'm terrified of putting work in there with beads on it because I can't imagine how it won't break them! Anyway, I just had to pause your vid to reply to that part. *laugh*
you should not put beads in your tumbler with steel shot...it's only good for metal jewelry. If you add beads afterwards, like dangles, that is another story...
If I use the leather will it prevent marks on the plated wire?
It should. When hammering plated you might lose the finish though. It can crack off or has to potential to. Test it out with a piece and hammer a bit more gently.
@@MagpieGemstonescom OK thanks
6:05 I think you mean Chuck. not shuck. and the name of what your using is a pen vice. 😁
Thanks for the kind words. I will add this idea to the list of tuts to make. Thanks for the idea.
thank you! This was really helpful!
You are so awesome...love your videos...down to earth...real...smart. Thank you. Melodie. Have a great 2013.
When you say a Tumbler, do you mean a small harbor freight type Rock Tumbler..... Just let it tumble dry for a bit?
Ty so much szarka I find your tutorials so very helpful!
Love the twist hardening technique, thanks!
Thank you! This was a huge help :)
Great, direct, simple! Thanks!
3:06.. False warning... 3:41
Hi ive been trying to make copper ear wires, they say 20 Gauge is preferable (I prefer 18G) I find 20G is still a bit to "soft" after hammering, I much prefer the 18GAny one else find this or is it just me?and is 18G really to thick for ears? they are fine in my ears :-) but I want to make my own to sell my jewellery
Great video Szarka! Thanks for the tutorial, personally I am scared to put anything but wire in a tumbler. I so want to learn to use one... Hope you get better soon!
Thank you. Just what i needed.
Hi
Thank you!
Your video went black about two minutes into it but I can still hear you
Weird
Do you hardening the wire with the twister before shaping your ear wire?
I don't usually but that is also a really effective way
great video! thanks
Thanks!
Well the wood will give so yes it will harden it but the metal hammer may cause the metal to change shape somewhat, grab some wire and give it a try until you get the effect you want.
I can't find the wire twister that you are using. Thanks for the informative video
I use an archimedes drill for gripping and twisting the wire. They're pretty cheap on ebay. I got mine in a tool shop for about £3.00
You can use a bag of casting grain and hand tumble for hardening also.
can you make beads with only wire?
Yes I have made quite a few.
Adorable
Why not heat treat with a torch then quench in water?
That's the process you use to soften silver and copper wire
will this work on lead free plumbing wire - for like a sculpture?
This "Christmas Cold" that everyone seemed to get hangs on pretty good, but I think I am almost over it.
Thanks for this video. I've never seen the twisting method to harden wire. Will definitely try this. Guess I need to buy a tumbler as well. (Oh, and not a single cough in the video, lol)
Hi,Thankyou so much for this video...It was very helpful and interesting...Hope you are feeling better soon and look forward to seeing your videos in 2013....Karenlee..From Australia.
Thanks heaps, I really appreciate people like you sharing your tips and tricks. Cheers Yenzo
I use a piece of leather, there are pillows for them out there in the world somewhere made of leather and filled with sand to muffle the noise.
Well I am not sure I am doing it right, I am just doing it LOL
Hello love your video, in hardening wire using a trumbler , say I was making a expandable bangle , would I make the bangle then place it in a tumbler, or harden the wire before I made the bangle ? I know this is a dumb question, I just want to do it right. Thank u so much
tammi mccormick I would harden afterwards. You might be surprised how much your wire will work harden as you make the piece.
You can get them at any bead store or online jewelry tool store, they are pretty inexpensive as well.
Twisting the wire for hardening, that was new to me. Thank you so much, have a good day.
Thank you for this
Thankyou so much for this xx
You are great - would love to meet you. Really appreciate the technique - guess I was doing it right!
i will try it and let you know how it goes
thank you
Interesting thanks, was thinking heat would be used😂goes to show what I know! So much easier than I thought!
That's used to soften wire.
Informative! Thx for putting this up
Thanks so much for all the great information. I have been looking forever for a tutorial on how to make petal or lotus shaped earrings. You know it looks like a v at the bottom and then rounds at the top like a hoop. Do you think you could show us that technique? thank you, get well.
How to starts at: 3:49
what do you put underneath the square metal block?
I need to make my model airplane front nose gear wire with a spring coil more harder how can I Do that?
Different metals harden in different ways. If you can figure out the metal it's made from and do a Google search on annealing and hardening that particular metal you might get somewhere.
Thank you for this, but can you tell me how to harden homemade jump rings. Mine always open whenever I try and I have been using the bench block and a hammer. Should I try using leather?
Tumble anything to harden the metal. That said, you can't expect an UN-soldered jump ring to hold it's own against a good pull. I recommend soldering your jump rings. Good luck!
I have no problems making jump rings that will hold. The secret is a heavy enough gauge of wire and the diameter of the wire. Barbara they will open when you hammer them and then you have to close them again. Watch more of my videos and you will see how and what I mean. RUclips won't let me post links.
Thanks Karen that is sweet of you.
Thanks Melodie.
Nice of you to share. I really already know there are harder wires. Why not just get into "how to harden soft wire".
+painting55 I'm brand new at this, so I appreciated all the info :-)
You expect the video to be personally tailored for you?
thank you soooo much! very helpful.
thanks :)
Thank you! I just started making wire-wrapped jewelry and have been using soft-tempered half round wire. I'm so glad to learn that it doesn't take much pounding with a soft hammer to harden it.
is a tumbler used for hardening wire too?
A lot of people use tumblers for hardening wire.
Great info!
Can you also harden aluminum wire?
It really doesn't like to be hardened. You basically have to go up gauges to get the strength you need.
Thank you.
Will a regular metal hammer and a block of wood do the job?