For the purposes of this course, every time I talk about wire gauge, I am always referring to the American Wire Gauge (AWG), which is also sometimes known as the Brown & Sharpe Guide. All of the product links throughout the course also take you to items measured in AWG.In simplest terms, gauge is the thickness of the wire. The smaller the size, the higher the number. It seems counterintuitive, but there we are.
In this lesson, I will be talking about the different types of metal that are commonly used in wire wrapping as well as make suggestions about what metals are best for beginners.Base MetalsLet’s discuss base metals, starting with aluminum.
I have divided the topic of tools into three different categories, based on my own experience.The first is the Must Have Starter Pack – at a bare minimum, you really can’t get by without chain nose pliers, round nose pliers and flush cutters (which many wire wrappers, including me, affectionately call “snips”).
One of the things I love the most about wire wrapped jewelry is that it’s not really mass producible – at least not in the way that handmade artisans do it. The fundamental nature of wire wrapping is that it is created using hands and hand tools. This gives every single wire wrapped piece a one-of-a-kind standing.
If these two styles had personalities, they would look like this: The Wrapped Loop requires a little more work upfront, but is emotionally stable, reliable and can withstand quite a bit of pressure. The Basic Loop, while fun and easy at first, turns out to be a bit neurotic and is prone to nervous collapse at the first sign of trouble.
