6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

poufdone — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:47:14 GMT

Any suggestions for getting a hammering block vs an small anvil ? Also, can you get a block larger than 4 x 4. I haven't been able to find one online. I was in a jewelry store that was selling a thick resin block 3" x 4"for whacking wire. Does that make more sense than using hammers ? ie. Less marks ?

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

robbsl — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:58:34 GMT

Maybe I did it the boring way, but I took a couple of classes before going out and playing on my own. I've also purchased books on the different techniques that I want to learn. I love Susie's story about what not to do! One thing you are is VERY brave to jump right in with the torch before learning basics like wire gauge and metals. I have't bought a torch yet, because I want to make sure I get the right one for the job, and I've been content and busy enough with wire wrapping for now. Thanks for sharing your story!

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

SusieW@13 — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:15:40 GMT

Dear Marlene: I'm sorry it took me a while to write this comment. I was kind of embarrassed to contribute after reading the comments from the pro's. I was impressed (and a little intimidated) by their suggestions. But I'm a novice and I'm not writing to teach you what I know, I'm writing to share my interesting story about my experience with wireworking. Case in point is the To Be Shore Bangle Interweave pattern that's featured here. I purchased the supplies about 1 1/2 years ago off of e-bay, because I thought I was getting the best prices. Yes, I made sure I got sterling silver items, but I didn't pay attention to the type of strengths! To me 1/2 hard and full soft weren't that different. Sterling and pure silver? What was the difference? I was an ER nurse. What was a little jewelry project to me? Well, once I actually looked at the directions, I realized I was in over my head. It took all that time for me to work out the steps in my mind. I finally brought the magazine in the bathroom with me and read it while on the throne. Days became weeks, weeks became months, you get the picture. When I finally felt ready, I attacked the project. Also, I was making it for my mom and she was arriving in a few days. I thought "what could possibly go wrong?" A lot, it turns out. I had no idea what it was like to work with a butane torch. Thinking I was saving money, I bought the cheapest pencil type. I tried to get the sterling wire to ball up & the torch kept going out and the wire didn't even get red. I kept adding butane and trying to heat the wire. Then I saw the copper center. I seem to remember from my intro to chemistry class that copper has a higher melting temp than silver. So, I decided to hold it up to the heat longer and when it didn't melt, longer still. More butane. More flame, more butane, flame, butane and WHOOSH! My eyelashes, eyebrows, hairline and eyeglass leash (that I spent 2 wks on) went up in smoke. I miss that eyeglass leash most of all. We now have a no butane torch rule in the house. Since I got the jewelry making bug, I ran my PayPal account into the ground. Seems I made a few transactions (well, more than a few) that I didn't transcribe to my checkbook. After closing my PayPall account, I e-mailed the vendors that had the correct wire I needed and asked if they would take a money order. A lot said no, but a few did. I'd love to share their names and websites with you and your readers. The best thing that came of it is I know where my money is going and I don't feel as if I've lost control of my funds. Sometimes I got confused with the small print. It wasn't their fault, it was mine. The last thing I did was swallow my pride and write to the artist, in spite of my fear of being ignored. Guess what? She wrote right back to me! All because of one project. Learning can be a painful experience. But what a great feeling when I got to the other side. I haven't finished the project yet, but I will. If I have any advice for the novice, it's don't mess around with the gauge or strength of the wire for a while. Experiment with color all you want, But wire-it can be a very expensive-and humbling-experince. Susie Wise

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

HeatherM@78 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:05:56 GMT

I have raided the garage for many tools to make jewelry. My favorite tool I used was the flat side of a hatchet for a bench block! I kept thinking that one day my hubby would go to use it and the head would fly off because it was loose from all of my hammering. I did eventually get a block of my own and I love that I can keep it inside at my table. But in a pinch...a hatchet is great!

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

DebWAZ — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:24:54 GMT

Marlene - thanks for giving me a smile. I'm glad to know I'm not the only person that gets an idea in their head and takes off with it before knowing how to do it! I love rule #1 - my hubby's favorite rule, too - especially when he catches me using a table knife as a screwdriver! Step by Step Wire is the BEST magazine for wire working! I don't usually work wire, but a I've been inspired a few times by projects in Step by Step.

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

AndreaM226 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:13:45 GMT

My first hammering experiment was, well dissapointing. I too started with 24 ga wire and a little bitty hammer that I had for banging rivets - of course I didn't have an anvil so I used a small 2 pound round weight from my weight lifting set - big mistake - every ding, dent, bit of peeling metal transfered beautifully to my wire - so I tried sanding and steel wooling the the little weight and it still left marks on my wire. My hopes for perfect little paddles at the end of the wires were also dashed. I was whacking way to hard. I finally broke down and bought the right kind of hammer, a little 4x4 anvil and a plastic mallet - I can now make most of my own jumprings but those perfect little paddle ends to my wire have eluded me, anyone with suggestions, please share. I'm still whacking away at my wire, with better and better results. The book "Getting Started Making Wire Jewelry" was helpful.

re: 6 Tips for Successful Hammered Wirework

Dusty@10 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:40:51 GMT

The real problem here is that you hammered the whole wire and the guage is small. I make a similar but I might add much more trendy (lol I think) but I only hammer the very end of the wire so what ever decoration I use won't slide off. Would be happy to send a picture. Fred Castle www.hunterscreeksilver.com