Pg 2 of 2 of Making Permanent Components in Jewelry Wire Jewelry Making Skill

The fourth step in making permanent wire components can be to employ bracing of your component. In the case of the component

shown at right, the "V" shaped wire component would not have been sufficiently strong to be used as a yoke in a necklace by itself. When we use a second wire component to brace both ends of the "V" shaped wire component, the resulting component is very strong and permanent as shown at left.

The final approach to making permanent jewelry wire Hammering Wire Jewelry Making Technique

components is to harden the piece by hammering it. Wire can be hardened by hammering it either with a nylon hammer, with a rawhide hammer or with a metal chasing hammer. Hammering wire with a nylon hammer or a rawhide hammer will not change the shape of the wire, but will make the finished wire component stiffer. Hammering wire with a metal chasing hammer will flatten the wire and will result in a finished wire component that is much stronger and stiffer. Here are a few dos and don'ts regarding hammering your wire components.

Do hammer wire that is one layer of wire like the ear wire shown above.
Don't hammer wire where one piece of wire crosses another. This will cause the wire to break at the point where the wire crosses.
Don't hammer too close to beads. Obviously, hitting the beads with the hammer can cause the glass to break.
Do use an anvil, a bench block, or a jeweler's block as the surface for holding the wire component that you will hammer. The smooth surface of the anvil or the blocks will minimize any marking of the wire.

Page 2 Hardening Wire/Making Permanent Jewelry Making Wire Components

Jewelry Making Techniques Dictionary of Jewelry Making Terms

Jewelry Making Techniques Dictionary of Jewelry Making Terms