1st and 2nd true wraps

[RoyKims]

i haven't posted much if at all here before but consider me up and coming.
while in tucson my sister had some friends come thru and the gal did wraps and gave me a quick lesson. the very first thing i learned was that you use FLAT/square and half round wire. i'd tried using just round and not only did it look bad but was almost impossible to use with no experience..  Lee is a cool gal and easy to follow. here's my 1st wrap and even tho the wire broke in one place i think i did a good job at hiding it. can you see it ?



anyway when i got home i wanted to do another but had no flat wire. what i did was take some of my round copper wire and hammered it flat. it isn't square but it works great. go ahead and try it. the hardest part of flattening it is keeping it even and not twisted as you move along. the wire isn't as sleek as store bought and does shw a little hammer marks but it polishes ut real nice.



after completion both were polished with Zam altho i use a generic product that's the same for 60% the price called Zip.. i'm a happy camper..

roy

[RoyKims]

after thought: does anyoneone know where to get nickle silver flat with in the smaller gauges like 20 and 22. most all i've seen only go to min. 18ga. ??  half round also..
once i get better i'll use SS but can't affordd it now.

roy

[Steve]

For practicing, as you are - yes, why not stay with what you are using now?  It's the technique you are developing, not the material.

Nickle silver............naw.............there's no silver......................and it's hard.  Use copper, brass and/or sterling.

There are several..........REALLY GOOD.................wrappers here on the forum.  I suggest you look for and read some of the tutorials.  It has taught me basic wire wrap.............

Oh, by the way.....Kool wraps...................

[Hummingbirdstones]

Roy, real nice job on your first wraps!   

I agree with Steve.  Stay away from the nickle silver if you can and work with copper and brass instead until you're ready to use Sterling.  On top of nickle silver being really hard, a lot of people are allergic to nickle and can't wear it.

By the way, what is that stone in the first wrap with the blue orbs?  It's very cool.

[RoyKims]

Roy, real nice job on your first wraps!   

I agree with Steve.  Stay away from the nickle silver if you can and work with copper and brass instead until you're ready to use Sterling.  On top of nickle silver being really hard, a lot of people are allergic to nickle and can't wear it.

By the way, what is that stone in the first wrap with the blue orbs?  It's very cool.

N/S is what i'm going to have to use for the most part. SS is just too expensive. social security just doesn't pay enough for SS.. so i still need an answer to that question.
as far as the first stone's idenity i have no idea except it appears to be some kind of rhyolite. it works like it also. i've posted it before but no one else IDed it either. i found a chunk of it in a wash outside tucson last year. fortunately i have about 1 11/2 pounds of it left.. to avoid breakage i stabilse the preform..

roy

[MrsWTownsend]

They are making silver filled wire now-a-days, similar to gold filled wire, in an effort to ff set the skyrocketing cost of silver.  Perhaps that is a material worth considering; you would be surprised at how many people can not tolerate nickel silver (aka German silver) against their skin.  It couldn't hurt to compare prices at least.

Nickel Silver
more nickel silver

silver filled
silver filled sold by the foot

[Taogem]

Really great for your fist pieces... !

[DonniesTreasures]

Looking good, Roy!  I looked around some & the smallest gauge I could find was 12 in square & 14 in half round.

[rac409]

nice wrap....stone really neat.

  Try this source for copper wire...for practicing. They offer square and half round wire. Speedy delivery, too. Tools etc too.

http://www.tumbleweedglass.com

this location sells wire too...I have not purchased from them...yet

http://www.parawire.com/craftstore.html

this seller on Ebay sells a lot of wire ...cheaper than stores. I have purchased from them speedy delivery

http://www.ebay.com/sch/micheytoo/m.html?item=300612532836&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649&_trksid=p4340.l2562
]

[39don]

Hi Roy.......Nice wrapping for your first two    .....as far as where it broke in the first wrap I don't have a clue, you did a great job hiding it.

[RoyKims]

gina,   the problem with the filled wire that i've had is in the final polish.. the silver just polishes off too easy..

bob,  thanks for the links(gina too).. i'll ck them out..  i just received an order of copper from the ebay link you gave.. VERY!!! fast service and shipping. one of the best..

i have found some wire at hobby lobby and they usually have a 40% off one item coupon.  if barb goes with me then it's 2 items i get.. the price is then some of the lowest i can get it at.. it's mainly copper tho or a litttle silver filled..   my last wife had allergies to just about all metal except gold and silver and to some of them as well. she pasted 21 years ago today. send her a hello, she was an angel in life..

the broken wire is in the upper left where the sweep and the band cross..

roy

[Steve]

Here's a website I ran across while I was researching wire wrapping.  I believe it will help you as it did me.........

http://andy321.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wwp&action=display&thread=26661

[ScarlettoSara]

Very impressive Roy:)
I see you have natural talent at this wrapping and cabbing business:)
here is a link to a site that has lots of free tutorials too:
http://www.jewelrylessons.com/tutorials/all

[RoyKims]

thanks steve,  the different styles and designs will help.

sara, thank you. that one has been in my favs for awhile.. as far as natual talent goes, i'm an artisan. i've always been good at the constuctive arts(not a true artist) when it's needed.. made my living for a while in new orleans setting up shop weekends selling my macrame. tourists will buy anything. also had an arts and crafts store for 3 years until i found out that retail really never left you alone.. you're nothing but an ant..

roy

[Enchantra]

I work primarily with round wire and have had no problems working with it.  I like the more primitive look it lends to some pieces. 

I have worked with Square and half round as well, just not as much. 

this location sells wire too...I have not purchased from them...yet

http://www.parawire.com/craftstore.html

I have purchased from these folks several times.  Good service and a good quality USA made product.  They are very prompt in shipping the merchandise as well.  They will even do custom orders.

You can also get cheap spools of aluminum, colored copper wire, Wrap-it wire, and silver filled wire from Firemountain.
http://www.firemountaingems.com/wire.asp?navsrc=2

Hope that helps Roy!