What are /r/WireWrapping's favorite Products & Services?

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Copper is a nice material to start with but it's hard finding it in square wire (which you'll need to wrap cabochons). You can get brass and copper wire from RioGrande.com fairly inexpensively. I haven't seen a decent book on wire wrapping yet. Most consider putting a wire through a bead wire wrapping. My favorite tutorials are on the Rock Tumbling Hobby Forums in the Wire Wrapping section here: http://andy321.proboards.com/board/24/wire-wrapping I think Biker Randy's tutorials are the best basic tutorials I've seen online. Here's my site feel free to ask about any of my wraps and I'll try to answer your questions :-) https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthArtsNW

Just finished this last night. This is a custom piece and already sold but if you'd like to see more of my work or order your own my store is: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthArtsNW . Also please feel free to ask about any of the techniques I use to create my pieces. Here's another pic of the back for those that are curious as to how I complete my wraps :-) http://i.imgur.com/RE0bHV3.jpg

I have had that issue and learned to just grin and bear it until I built up some callous. I have tried vet tape in the past and found it was decent, doesn't leave behind any sticky residue but was difficult to do any detail work with.

That looks fantastic, and really shows off that stone too. If you start moving to larger pieces, you might want to look at getting a wire straightener of some kind. I use nylon jaw pliers, but sometimes I use these as well Beadalon Artistic Nylon Wire Straightener Tool with 3 Rollers: Amazon.com.au: Office & School Supplies Longer lengths of wire naturally get a bit bendy.

That's a lovely piece, and an inventive way to decorate some pretty labradorite.

I use Renaissance Wax polish (Amazon) to finish all my oxidised work. It was was developed by The British Museum for protection of fine art and will not stain or discolour with aging. It is acid neutral, water and alcohol resistant. You may wish to re-apply this coating in time due to wear / usage.

Ahh! I see! Well you could leave the stone out entirely then and just use a heavy gauge copper or silver wire. I sometimes do this and then hammer the wire after it's put together to flatten it. You then use lighter gauge wire for the bindings. Here's a copper cross that I used that technique on: https://www.etsy.com/listing/180809248/free-shipping-hammered-copper-celtic?

Not exactly sure what you are trying for but most often I try to not have the wires hide the face of the stone at all but to complement it. The exception to this would be a "tree of life" type wrap which is sort of what it looks like you are doing. Generally wire isn't added to the piece but is part of the basic bezel wrap. That way you don't have so many endpoints to hide. One thing you could try is to use 1 single wire for all the runs just loop around the bezel and return to the center, make a twist and then run the wire to the next point of the bezel. That way you would only have one start point and one endpoint and they could possible be the same point even. You should look at the wire wrap jewelry on etsy to get some ideas. Here's my store on etsy, please feel free to ask me about anything you see: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthArtsNW . Also here's a really good basic tutorial on wirewrapping stones: http://andy321.proboards.com/thread/26661/complete-tutorial-wire-wrapping-pics It might give you a better idea on what I was trying to say. Good luck and welcome to the ancient and amazing art of wire wrap!

I really like the design. It fits the natural shape of the stone well. My only feedback is that the wraps on the bottom point seem a bit uneven. Not sure how you are threading your wraps but I use a small pair of bent nose pliers to hold the end and then gently prebend the wire into a curve before threading it around the armature wire. It helps me to keep a consistent wrap. Anyhow overall it's a nice looking wrap :-) If you'd like some ideas see my store https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthArtsNW . I'll try to answer any questions :-)

Thank you for the compliment. I use liver of sulfur to oxidize the copper then remove some of the tarnish on certain areas with ultra fine 0000 grade steel wool. That tarnish resistant copper wire you got would not oxidize using this method. These were made with mandala craft wire also purchased from Amazon, here's a link: https://www.amazon.com/Mandala-Crafts-Beading-Wrapping-Jewelry/dp/B00YDEZAAO

You can also usually buy a good variety of wire from a local craft or mineral shop.

https://www.amazon.com/Plano-758-4-Drawer-Tackle-Box/dp/B000E39T28?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_8

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This is what I use. I put my spools of wire and my pliers and such in the top section of the box. The bottom drawers I use to store my stones and finished pieces.

This is a great starting point! I actually funded my business with the same set, you are going to want a pair of flat pliers as shown here.

https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Flat-Nose-Jewelry-Bending-Straightening/dp/B002TN1L6I

There is a lot of stuff you can buy for different projects. To avoid spending a ton of money on a new hobby you really have to decide what type of wire wrapping you want to do and only get the stuff pertaining to that to start.

You’ll definitely need a pair of small pliers for working with the wire and wire cutters. A rounded set of pliers is really nice, basically essential.

https://www.amazon.com/Wrapping-Supplies-Audab-Measuring-Findings/dp/B0998TPGN6/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?adgrpid=59807006281&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7KqZBhCBARIsAI-fTKLlfhoX2GLNaNtWvwX-PsKxHzkwWNwzGYSPT9CLOZaqAFeGvqb2PI8aAknKEALw_wcB&hvadid=583811063653&h...

That’s just a quick google for a starter kit. No real need to spend a bunch of money yet. Plus, once you buy a bunch of different wire it’ll cost plenty 😊.

Buy cheap wire to start. You’ll ruin a lot of it. Look for local rock and gem clubs to get access to stones.

OxanaCrafts has lots of tutorials on YouTube.

Allilujah is pretty active in this sub and has a YouTube channnel.

The really complex pieces with lots of coils are usually called “heady” pieces. For those, and all pieces with lots of coils, you’ll want a coiling gizmo.

https://www.jewelrysupply.com/Professional-Deluxe-Wire-Coiling-Gizmo_p_20685.html

That’s more expensive than the one I have but it’s nicer than mine, mine works fine.

Ultimately all you need is pliers, wire cutter, wire. Everything else just makes your work prettier or easier.

Yeah painters tape works like a dream. But ring clamp is better. I found a great deal on them recently

PH PandaHall 2 Pack Wooden Ring... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075B6HC8R?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The radial bristle disc. I use the 2500 grit the most. “Gray” it’s on amazon

Radial Bristle Disc Kit with 3mm Shank for Rotary Tools,Detail Abrasive Wheel for Jewelry Wood Metal Polishing, Bristle Wheel with Grit 80 120 220 400 600 1000 2500 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W4NQC8Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_18N4WQTEBZZX0QDJB4ZK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks so much. I got it off Amazon. Here’s one that’s similar 🙏

3" Hardened Steel Combination Bench Block w/Wooden Base Jewelry Making Metal Forming Work Surface Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018Y2WP58/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_46VDFDNN0WT0T782XRZ4

Perhaps a bobbin might fit through there. I keep bobbins full of weaving wire as a practice and I also keep empty bobbins on hand to wind up a long tail if I want to do a symmetrical weave started in the center. If a bobbin doesn't fit then you really have no other option but to curse at the tail or rethink your design, particularly when you choose to close up the frame.

This is the kind I use but I'm not affiliated or endorsing.

This a midnight blue flash stone of about 30 carats. I used 1/10 silver filled wire in 22 gauge half hard square wire and 22 gauge half round half hard. I just added this to my store at https://www.etsy.com/listing/181183663/free-shipping-labradorite-pendant

I don't do the coil wrapping myself, but for standard wraps generally you use square wire in 20-22 gauge and then half round wire for the bindings. Most people like half hard wire as it is easily bendable but will hold a shape. Here's a link to my etsy store. Feel free to ask me any questions about what you see and I'll try to get back to you. I love wire wrapping and it's great that you want to get back to it! https://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthArtsNW

https://www.amazon.com/Artistic-24-Gauge-Tarnish-Resistant-15-Yard/dp/B000ONA40E this is the artistic wire, I think Beadalon is a good brand too

HEY!

There's actually a tool called a Wire Straightener. I use it and the first time I used it I was surprised how well it worked.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JLRURTM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_2MZ526EG7K2NB75W8P99

https://www.amazon.com/Beadalon-Square-21-Gauge-Practice-Square/dp/B004F9Q7Q8

This is what I used to get started with wire-wrapping (I'm a beginner too)... pretty low-cost as it comes with both the square wire and half-round wire. Square wire is cool that when you twist it, it makes the wire have a nice spiral-twisted look to it. The half-round wire is to kind of help secure the square wires together, ties them together - obviously you would have the rounded part facing outwards and the flat part touching the square wires. If you need tutorials, check OxanaCrafts on youtube. GL :)

I've never been able to find a GOOD starter kit except for the set of pliers. Get some quality ones from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016MMZL0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_rKb9DbD0THF5B

As for wires themselves I started with 20 guage, 24 guage, 28 guage, and small amount of 18 guage. Find the less expensive wire for your first projects as they might not be very pretty. Mine were abysmal.

I started by making rosaries for the church about 30 years ago. It took about 3 years of practice and learning that quality tools are the only way to get better. If yout tools are slipping or not cutting cleanly, your end results are not as good.

I'd suggest the use of a ring clamp to keep your base wires still and avoid finger cramps.

I bought a relatively cheap kit of tools off of Amazon! There is a squared edge pair of pliers in the set, that's what I normally use for clean bends. You'll also be able to do it with other pliers the better you get at creating clean bends.

I cut a piece longer than I needed and anchored it to something that swiveled at the other end (I had this tied to a chair and the wire tied into it). It still didn't stay completely straight, and it tried to bunch up on me. But it's still a work in progress. I've done it only three times so far. :)