Wire Wrapping Secrets

[DesignsByTahra]

So, I am curious since we are a techniques and materials team, what kind of silver wire do you wrap briolettes with? Half hard sterling silver, dead soft sterling silver or fine silver? I have heard so many different schools of thought. I think this really might be worth discussing, I would love to hear your views as to why you choose what you choose! I know this one will be worth marking when you hear what our experts have to say!

[Former_Member]

I like 22 gauge dead soft. It's a little firmer than 24 so it has better holding power, but. It too firm.

[AnjasArts]

I don't wrap briolettes, but i prefer 24ga dead soft round for my rings argentium sterling. half hard is just to hard to work with, and since I need to strands of wire to go in the bead holes a 20-22 ga wire won't work for most beads.
I have been wanting to try out the half round though.

[Former_Member]

I use 20 - 18 gauge dead soft silver round for almost all my pendants. I like using 19-22 gauge sterling silver head pins for wrapping small briolettes and small stone cabs with holes.

Not a fan of closing off the top the crystal, so I don't wrap tight around the top of the stone, but I make a swing. Allowing the stone or the crystal to have more movement and light pass thru' it.

[Former_Member]

I use 24g dead soft sterling wire. I would like to move to argentium or fine silver for less oxidation, but can't justify the additional cost yet.

[WolfstoneJewelry]

I wrap a lot of gemstone briolettes with tiny holes, so I use half-hard 28 or 26 gauge. For wire wrapped loops I usually use half hard 24 gauge. The dead soft feels too mushy to me.