7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

meredith11 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:40:58 GMT

That isn't a wooden dish. It's the bottom of an old sad iron (without it's handle) that can be sued as a steel bench block to hammer on.

FYI - steel is galvanized so it won't rust but anything galvanized has zinc in it. You don't want to heat up either of those materials without appropriate ventilation, facilities and lung protection because the toxic fumes are serious. It's called Metal Fume Fever and you can get the shakes, brain and lung damage. Blacksmith's have died from this.

Stainless steel fumes can give off chromium which is also extremely serious business as well.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

meredith11 — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:40:44 GMT

That isn't a wooden dish. It's the bottom of an old sad iron (without it's handle) that can be sued as a steel bench block to hammer on.

Stainless steel fumes can give off chromium which is also extremely serious business as well.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

L_marie — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:20:34 GMT

Because a roll of this wire is so cheap, I use it to practice with and I use it to make bead covered hangers for hanging baskets, really so much you can do with it

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

BelleWest — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 19:55:35 GMT

Love all the tips and suggestions here~ I just bought a tutorial on Etsy for making steel bangles and am so happy to find this post!!

QUESTION~ Aside from the steel wire and the garage style cutters, what are the 'tools' shown this photo? What is the wooden dish for? I'm new to this so any help is appreciated.

Thanks! {Donna}

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

Ellen Sweet — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:02:05 GMT

pooja18,

Not sure if you've had the question answered, but you can find dark/black annealed steel wire at Ace hardware. Mine didn't have the gauge I wanted, so I ordered on line.It's very inexpensive and shippibng doesn't kill you since it's pretty lightweight.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

pooja18 — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 17:11:51 GMT

hi everyone

im new to jewellerymaking , im recently using silver plated wire , but i want to try different wire e.g.annealed steel wire, galvanized or the stainless steel.

if possible can anyone tell me where can i buy these wires from for cheap

thank you

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

sfoster95 — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 01:19:14 GMT

I would love to know where to get stainless steel wire in 14 gauge, 18 gauge, 20 gauge and 22 gauge. Anyone know where I might find it?

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

Wanda W — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:52:28 GMT

Hi all, I purchases a metal polish, by or called Wenzal (sp)I haven't had time to try it yet, very reasonably priced, and can be used on silver, copper, brass. Has anyone else used this? It was mentioned in a forum I read afew monthes ago. thanks Wanda

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

Erin Prais-Hintz — Wed, 27 May 2009 16:11:29 GMT

I have just discovered this type of wire. Deryn Mentock of Something Sublime is a master at using it. She suggested the Rennaissance Wax as well...just wish it were more readily available and a bit less expensive. I have used it to make clasps and to wire wrap stones and I find that the patina that the galvanized steel dark annealed has is quite nice. I use a sanding pad to remove some of the black finish. It blends much nicer with vintage finds than sterling does, even with a liver of sulpher patina. I like the look when it is hammered too. Since the subject was the 100th monkey, I find that the comment on too much wire coverage rather funny! Perhaps this is the 100th monkey Jean speaks of! I think it is great to learn new tricks and techniques. I am glad that you are giving it a more thorough coverage by branching out into the galvanized steel and aluminum (I have never heard of). Thanks for everyone sharing their great tips! Enjoy the day! Erin Tesori Trovati Jewelry http://treasures-found.blogspot.com www.tesoritrovati.com

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

bylynette — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:12:32 GMT

I too love working with rebar/tie wire. An alternative to Renaissance wax is to coat the wire with clear acrylic, i.e. Future Floor Wax,or equivalent. I learn to use it working with polymer clay friends and it seemed a natural transition. It's clear, simple to dip or coat a piece and let it dry. This holds the rust at bay and adds just a slight sheen. I still would avoid wearing iron wire jewelry in the shower, but the acrylic coating keeps the Midwest humidity from causing rusty gunk where it isn't wanted.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

Kathryn Tyre — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:59:33 GMT

One of my teachers suggested using Renaissance wax to protect copper and brass jewelry. It is expensive, but a little goes a long way. Hair spray can be a less expensive choice but it doesn't last as long as Renaissance or floor wax.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

currach — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:41:27 GMT

what is the obsession with wire jewelry? This must be the craft d'jour. I hope BeadingDaily widens its scope SOON!

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

mdncrafts — Fri, 22 May 2009 08:16:29 GMT

I have never had a problem with galvanized steel rusting, even when it came into contact with water, but when it is against skin , thats when it really seems to darken, also gets a strange look if your skin is sweating. I have tryed using differant chemicals on it to lighten it back up but everything made it worse, I did discover that letting it sit in lemon juice will turn it very black, I like that look, but I have not yet tested it to see if the black will come off on your skin. After reading BrendaP's comment I will have to do some research on the toxic fumes. I made a ring with stainless steel wire and wore it 24/7 for over 5 months to see how it would hold up in water etc, no problems what so ever (except for being hard to bend) I now use stainless in a lot of my jewelry pieces. I have tryed the aluminum wire also, it is so light you have to be careful twisting and bending it breaks to easily.

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

NancyB@5600 — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:41:11 GMT

I bought but haven't yet used, _aluminum_ wire at a hardware store. Any ideas on using it? My monkey story has to do with knitting so I won't tell it here but I have a warning - many times I've thought I was being brilliant, then in looking over an old magazine/book in my collection - there it was! Maybe I really invented it again, but... :)

re: 7 Tips for Using Steel Wire in Your Jewelry Designs

BrendaP13 — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:10 GMT

Being a bird owner as well as a wire wrapper, I've read lots of posts about how galvanized wire is toxic to birds if they ingest it and also the release of toxic substances when it becomes wet. As with most things, there are two sides to any debate. Some say it's ok others say not. However, I to err on the side of safety and do not use galvanized wire in my designs. There are so may other great alternatives that I don't want to chance it. Also if you plan to use a torch on it, don't. As part of the Toxic Substance Control Act (Public Law 94-469 - galvanized wire is one of the things that has to be reported on because of it's release of zinc particles. I found this info in - http://www.h-b.com/images/msds/MillGalvanizedSteelWire.pdf which is a Material Safety Data Sheet on Galvanized Steel Wire from Hohmann & Barnard, Inc. NOTE: Steel products in their usual physical form do not pose any health hazards. However, when subjected to welding, burning, grinding, cutting, abrasive blasting, heat treatment, pickling, or similar operations, potentially hazardous fumes or dust may be emitted. .... Special attention should be directed to the zinc coating which could be a significant source of zinc oxide fumes or dusts during welding or similar activities Do your own research and make your own informed decision. And by all means, if you use it in your designs, disclose that to your buyers. Brenda