Transition from plated wire to sterling, DS vs HH?

[BostonSeaglass]

Hi! I am looking for a little help as I make the transition from plated wire to sterling. I have been wrapping sea glass in 20g wire plated over copper and it has a satisfying "grip" to it. I have had trouble with sterling, the half hard fights me and unwraps and the dead soft kind of lays there on the glass and doesn't grip it. Should I buy DS and hammer it? I am not ready for anything involving a blow torch.

Thank you for your help!

[Former_Member]

Another thought would be to buy dead soft square wire. It holds better than the round, has a bit more substance. Just my thought.

[BostonSeaglass]

I didn't know that. Would that be true of half round too?

[Former_Member]

On the rare occasion that I've used sterling I've used half-round, round-side in, and hammered it. It's worked well to harden it off. 99% of my jewelry is silver plate, though.

[Former_Member]

I haven't worked much in sterling, but you are right, what I did I had to fight. I do like working with the dead soft square wire.

[Former_Member]

You should def. use deadsoft when wrapping a pendant. I actually just wrapped a piece of sea glass for my aunts xmas gift,came out beautiful. I used 22 gauge Square Dead Soft Argentium Silver,another type of sterling.The big advantage of using sterling or sterling fill too is that you can tumble your piece after and harden,shine and smooth the wire.Good luck with your transition...just remember to practice in copper-I learned that the hard way =/

[Untwistedsister]

I would also suggest the dead soft sterling wire or if it doesn't feel like it has enough 'stretch' to it, go all the way to Fine Silver. It won't tarnish like sterling and is even softer to work with. The disadvantage is that it doesn't harden as easily or completely as sterling will but you can also use a heavier gauge like you're used to.

[BostonSeaglass]

Thank you everybody for the great advice.

[Former_Member]

Can you tumble pendants or earrings wired with sea glass to harden them off? I'd think they'd break if you used shot, and people who sell authentic sea glass don't tumble them with sand or anything like that because it destroys the authenticity of the found glass.

[BostonSeaglass]

I don't know anything about tumbling silver, but no, I wouldn't tumble sea glass. I don't even let my best pieces touch other pieces of glass as they can scratch each other.

[Untwistedsister]

I know that fused glass can be tumbled without scratching or harming it. I would take a small piece of your sea glass and try it. I use a rotary tumbler with stainless steel mixed shot, just enough water to cover and a drop or 2 of blue dawn liquid or burnishing liquid.

[Former_Member]

I tumbled my sea glass pendant for 3 hours,did not hurt it at all.Glass is very durable in the tumbler,you can tumble it even longer than most stones.I use a stainless steel mixed shot with a drop of dawn soap.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the info. I guess it won't damage the glass. But does it change the patina of the glass? If chips are smoothed in the process, for instance, it isn't really authentic sea glass anymore.

[Former_Member]

It did not make any changes on the piece I tumbled.I was actually hoping it might smooth out some of the chips...that is why I let it tumble for so long.After 3 hours,not a visable difference anywhrere, I figured I might as well give up and took it out,lol

[Former_Member]

Thanks Joanna! So far hammering has worked well for me, but as I get into more complex wire wrapping techniques and if and when I make the move to sterling I know that will no longer be an option.

[Former_Member]

Just my 2 cents here but every piece in my shop that is wire wrapped is done with sterling silver wire no matter what the stone and it is ALL half hard sterling. I range from 18 to 24 gauge depending on what it's being used for and I have absolutely no problems at all. It just takes some practice and patience to get it to do what you want when you want it to.