wire inclusion questions
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wire inclusion questions
I'm going to make a pair of small fused earrings for my daughter. I've read about wire inclusion and know to use nichrome. Can I leave a loop outside the glass to attach to the finding, or would it burn away? What guage of nichrome should I use?
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fine silver
Is this sterling silver like you would use in wire-wrapping?
Glass Rainbows, Carrollton, GA
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Fine silver is actually 99.9% pure silver, whereas sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% fine silver and 7.5% something else. Traditionally the something else in the alloy is copper.
The reason that most jewelry is made of sterling silver, rather than fine silver, is that the addition of the copper makes it a harder metal that holds its shape better.
Fine silver is very soft and doesn't hold its shape as well in large pieces.
That being said, many jewelers, myself included, use fine silver bezel wire for cabochons because its easier to bend when setting a stone than sterling would be.
Geri
The reason that most jewelry is made of sterling silver, rather than fine silver, is that the addition of the copper makes it a harder metal that holds its shape better.
Fine silver is very soft and doesn't hold its shape as well in large pieces.
That being said, many jewelers, myself included, use fine silver bezel wire for cabochons because its easier to bend when setting a stone than sterling would be.
Geri