Craft Store Wire or BUY ONLINE???WHICH?

[Former_Member]

I have been working w. wire for some time, and would like to know more about wire, the types, which last, which don't, ...etc....I have recently been buying coated "sterling silver wire" at Joannes, and it does seem nicer.(then the "permantly colored silver craft wire or nickle silver ") I am worried about how my necklace coils, wraps will hold up over time and i do add my own varnish. I have also tried dipped sterling wire in 24 K gold, and i wonder about that too....but
when i look online i am over whelmed at the choices. What is a good quality economical wire to buy in gold and silver?

[AnjasArts]

I've been doing this since 2009and the best place I have found is rio grande. You do have to buy 25ft or more at a time but it is well worth it.
I use 24g. But I do need to get some 18.
I buy 14/20 gold filled, and argentium sterling silver round dead soft

[MeiElizabeth]

My preference is gold filled wire which is a sturdy mixture of gold and silver that maintains it's coloring very well. In terms of gauge, 28 gauge is my preference as it is very delicate and you can do fine detail work. I hope this helps!

-Mei Elizabeth

[Former_Member]

MeiElizabeth -where do you buy yours!?

[Former_Member]

Thank you anjasarts , i've think i've heard that place mentioned, will have to look it up.

[Former_Member]

You might want to try out silver -fill. IT is like gold fill.You can tumble it if it looses it's color and it will be good as new. Copper is always a good choice to for practice.It comes in all the shapes and sizes like silver and gold wire.
The gauge/shape wire you use really just depends on what you are making and the style wrapping you are following.
My most common size in my jewelry is 22g Dead Soft Square. I make wraps with half round half hard wire. Check Rio for good deals on wire,you have to buy the copper by the pound,but you save alot that way.They just started carrying silver fill too .
Here is a link to the metals section;

http://www.riogrande.com/Category/Metals/104

[TheRelicShoppe]

Thanks for the great tip! I use sterling silver dead soft 20g, and I've been buying from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. Their prices are much steeper for precious metals, but they've also got just about everything you'd ever need in terms of findings, beads and other components.

[Former_Member]

I use Para wire or Artistic wire. Michaels is starting to carry Artistic wire, but it's cheaper to buy it online. There are sellers here on etsy who sell it in larger quantities and cheaper than you can find it in stores.

[Former_Member]

Hi Sarah - I buy my sterling and fine silver wire exclusively from Monsterslayer.com. Their prices are consistently the lowest I've found plus they have terrific customer service and their sterling silver wire is recycled. They also give a generous credit for scrap. Be warned: their website isn't very pretty, but if you know what you want, it's easy enough to find it. I'm a fan and have been very happy buying from them.

[CarolBradley]

I buy most of my sterling wire from Monsterslayer or Thunderbird. They and Rio Grande all base their prices on the spot price, but their choices in the time of the spot price can make their silver prices different. All three sites are very trustworthy as far as quality and quick shipping. I love that Rio Grande lets you keep a "wish list" like Amazon does.

Thuderbird has great "Super Sales" about every 6 weeks or so.

I've heard people say Hoover & Strong is good too. I don't recall why I haven't shopped there. :)

For non-silver, Parawire's permanently coated copper wire holds up the best for me. It doesn't chip or scratch when I work with it. (By the way, the Vintaj brand wire sold at Hobby Lobby is made by Parawire. That's the only craft store wire I endorse.)

Rio Grande has the new silver-filled wire. Apparently theirs has a thicker silver coating than others.

This slightly off-topic, but just must recommend getting Rio Grande's tools catalog if you haven't already. It is total tool porn! (In a PG way.)

[Former_Member]

Great tips--thanks!

[Former_Member]

I buy my precious metals from Monster Slayer, but most of my work is base metals in an effort to maintain a level of affordability for both myself and my customers. I've used Parawire and hated it. Now I use the sterling silver plated copper from JoAnns in a pinch, though prefer to buy online (ebay or Amazon will typically have them for less). It holds up VERY well under constant use. In fact, I've used very few wire, with the exception of the Parawire, that doesn't hold up well, but the sterling silver plate from JoAnn's is actually very nice... a whole lotta bang for your buck with that wire. I prefer 28 gauge, though, which is hard to find in the sterling plate... or even the Artistic Wire (my other preferred base metal wire), so if I want 28 gauge, I have to order... usually from Amazon.

[Former_Member]

Thank you, that is great info, and reassuring too bec. I just started using Joanne's sterling wire, and thought it looked great and was hoping for lasting wear. Believe it or not WALMART had some kind of silver plate wire that I thought was pretty and durable, I have not seen the test of time, but I put it to the "test" and with rough handling it did not scratch, break,go down to the copper etc...I am definitely trying not to put alot of $$ into supplies.

[abigailpine]

I've recently found this place, it sells wire in bulk and quite inexpensively, which is very useful for me. Don't know if that's any use to you, but.....
http://wires.co.uk/index.html

[RichKnobSales]

http://www.jffjewelersupply.com/

JFF in suburban Atlanta has superb service. Just pick up the phone & call them. They sell based on spot prices, not like Fire Mountain. Your big overhead would be postage with them. They have sterling, argentium, and gold filled, wire, sheets and possibly more - this is the only stuff I have price sheets on. They also carry a full line of jewelry tools and machinery. Very nice people, knowledgable and willing to explain everything.

I am LOVING their fine silver. I bought some that is like thread! 30 gauge? I haven't used it yet, but I ran over & stocked up when silver dropped to $28.50!

Ace Hardware - THE place for plain copper wire, hands down. Prices vary from Ace to Ace, though, but they have a great selection, and it's much cheaper than Michaels. If you want the heavy gauges, ask for ground wire. It is sold by the foot. My Ace guys now call it bracelet wire, LOL!

SOME Walmart stores get in silver plate but alas not all, and it seems to go fast.

There are many sellers here on Etsy with excellent prices on most wire. Unkamen has a huge inventory! I haven't ordered from him yet since I found him after I had bought off line from a former eBay seller.

[sarahndippity]

I use exclusively fine silver wire. It is softer and so allows me to manipulate better with my designs. It also doesn't need to be pickled if you melt the ends, a big bonus for me. I have gone as low as 32ga with the wire but normally use 30ga. I also like working with copper. Monsterslayer and Rio Grande are both excellent sources for wire.

When it comes to wire I think it boils down to what feels right to your fingers. If it doesn't feel right you will being fighting it and that is never good.

[Former_Member]

I keep a spreadsheet of wire prices by gauge, shape, price, and source. Fire Mountain prices are NEVER competitive. Unfortunately Monsterslayer often doesn't have what I need. And although I buy LOTS of stuff (usually not wire) from MonsterSlayer, the two sources that have consistently had the best sterling silver and gold-filled prices, quality, and stock are Rio Grande and Halstead. Halstead (which was recommended by a professional jeweler in South Carolina) even notified me when the price of silver dropped! But wherever you shop, be sure to compare prices (which often change daily) and include shipping costs in the comparison.

For base metals, Parawire can't be beat. They even have square and half-round wire.

[Untwistedsister]

I use only sterling silver or 14/20 gold filled wire or copper. Rio Grande is about the best for me but I like Brandywine for copper and sometimes I'll go to Thunderbird Supply or sometimes to therockhaus, which is about the only one I've found that carries the 20g half round in half-hard in Argentium but I'm even getting away from using the argentium because it reacts so badly with sunscreen.

[Former_Member]

Awesome info. Thanks!

[AnjasArts]

Another reason I use Rio, I have a ton of scrap from each piece I make so I save it all up and send it it. Rio just up their scrap return to 85%. So I trade it in and get store credit for when I need to buy more.

[Former_Member]

Just an add-on: Thunderbird prices appear to be competitive until you read the fine print. $2.00 is added to every domestic order, which means the $37+ price per troy ounce becomes $39+. This is in addition to shipping.

[Former_Member]

I really like the quality and the selection at Parawire. They ship like lightning and are so great to deal with. I get my precious metal wires at CGM findings (dot com)--usually better priced than Rio and really great, quick service.
Hope this helps.

[CarolBradley]

Jackie - I'd like to clarify what you said about Thunderbird's $2 additional charge. That charge is per order, not per ounce. When I ordered $156 worth of material, there is a $2 handling charge added, to make my total $158 before shipping.

[Former_Member]

This thread has been a great resource. I just started ordering through riogrande, and the shipping was very fast, but it was quite expensive. I'll check out some of the other sites listed here. I never buy from craft stores anymore, as they are much more expensive, even when I factor in shipping. I would like to try parawire, but was afraid it would be like artistic wire and would easily mar and show the copper beneath the plating. Sounds like it is a bit mor sturdy. I love the look of Vintaj, but have been hesitant to try it.

[finegemstone]

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97161739/fine-quality-blue-flashy-labradorite