The question of the month has been how to select wire and which gauge wire to use for each project. Here is some information to help you make your selections:

German Bead Wire: It’s inexpensive and easy to use. It great for beginners and those practicing new techniques.
Non Tarnish Craft Wire: Great for all levels and can be used for many types of projects. It’s inexpensive, durable and comes in lots of bold colors, in addition, to the standard, silver, gold, copper and bronze.
Precious Metal Wire: Sterling Silver or Gold Filled: Great for lasting and luxurious gifts. We recommend that you don’t mix metals so if you choose to use sterling ear wires, then wrap your pieces with Sterling wire to have a 100% sterling piece. When working with semiprecious stones, I always use precious metal wire.
Tip: To save a bit of money, purchase deadsoft wire and work-harden it as needed. Also, consider buying only what you need. You can typically purchase by the spool, the foot or inch.

Unlike beading wire which is measured by diameter, wire is measured in gauge. The higher the number, the thinner the wire. The same goes for sheets of metal. Below are some project guidelines:

18 – 20 gauge: findings
20 – 22 gauge: earwires, headpins, eyepins, linking
24+ gauge: wrapping and knitting. We knit using wire as small as 30 gauge.

For more information on using wire, check out one of our wire working classes. As always, you are welcome to stop in with any questions or join one of our meetup groups. Enjoy working with wire.