Good and Bad News, folks!

Hello, everyone! I do apologize for the long absence that yall have experienced with me.  However, I do have some good and some bad news, and as a result i am looking for some wire gauge guides?  You see, I have made myself a Pride bracelet (I'm gay), and I am somewhat successful with it except for one thing: It broke on me!  My partner took a look at it and said that I was using too thin of wire.  What other materials are there that are strong and doesn't wear and tear and break easy?  Does  anyone have any ideas of how to find a wire gauge guide so I can avoid this time-consuming, cost-inaffective, and heart breaking experience in the future?  PLEASE HELP?!? 

P.S. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MYSELF A COMPLETE SET OF THIS JEWLERY, BUT I'D LIKE TO BE PERMENANTLY SUCCESSFUL WITH THE BRACELET FIRST.

Sincerely,

NU2THISINIOWA

 Hey nu2,

I found my favorite wire tools at Rio Grande.  It's a jewelry supply company.  They carry all kinds of wire & wire working tools.  www.riogrande.com

Awww, I'm sorry that happened.  It is so discouraging!  But no worries, we will help you fix it up!

Is it possible that you can post a picture of the bracelet so that we can see what method you used to make it?  Then we can give you better advice on what type of wire/stringing material to use.  If you can't post a picture, try to describe it the best you can.

Thanks!

Cathi

Hi,

oh no, I hate when such things happen! You invested time and it broke. And I agree that it would help to have a pic of the bracelet, so we can help.

 I agree with the others, it would help to know exactly what you did with the wire before anyone can tell you what gauge to use.

Did you braid the wire, make wire wrapped links.....

If you have a picture or better description of what you did to make it, we can all help further. We would all love to see anyway!

A heavier gauge wire probably won't break on you unless it's over worked and becomes brittle.

I did find a guide the other day online for wire gauges and their best uses- let me see if I can find it again for you. Otherwise with more info I'm sure the bunch of us here can help you :)

 Yes, please post a picture...wire work is one of my favorites to do but without looking at it, it would be a bit hard?  What gauge did you use?  I think I have a chart that has gauge sizes.

Hey Nu2this, Welcome to the forum where many are happy to help others. Try this article:

http://beadingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2009/10/19/how-to-choose-the-right-wire-gauge.aspx

Hope this will shed some light on your wire problem.

I cannot post a picture yet b/c my camera is out of town (supposed to be here this weekend, I think!).  Anyway...........................Here are the steps that I used to make the bracelet (please forgive me, for I don't know my mm measurements for the beads but they are small).  But right now (sorry) I am unable to think about the steps (they're simple) due to being groggy with a cold!

So, why am I responding? R-E-S-P-E-C-T! That's what I want to give to all of you!  How do you braid wire?  I have never even heard of it being done until I saw it posted here!  It was a simple,single strand of wire; I do rememeber this much!

 I am going to try and take a picture as requested of me sometime within the next week, since I DID get my camera back today...Thanks for all of your patience!

---Jon