WIRE WRAPPING (WIRE WORK)

Wire Work: Is one of the oldest techniques for making jewelry by hand. In wire wrapping, jewelry is made using jewelry wire and  findings similar to wire (like head-pins) to make components. Wire components are then connected to one another using mechanical techniques with no soldering or heating of the wire. 

Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent. Because of this technique for wrapping wire around itself this craft is called wire wrapping.

·         Wire wrapped jewelry is made of wire and findings similar to wire (head-pins, jump rings, etc.)

·         Wire wrapped jewelry is made using mechanical connections between components and without soldering or other heat treatments.

Wire is available is various shapes, such as round and square, and patterns, such as flat and pre-twisted. It is also available in a variety of materials. Copper and brass wire are easy to shape and manipulate.

Copper wire can be hammered quite thin. Brass wire is a little stiffer than copper, but it can be manipulated very easily. Sterling silver is soft enough to manipulate, but holds its shape well once it has been formed. Gold-filled wire is made by fusing a layer of 12-karat gold to a supporting material. The bond between the two materials is permanent.