Sunday, May 8, 2011

Wire Gauges....Choosing The Right Wire ~

I'm forever trying to figure out the right gauge/width wire for different projects I'm working on.   
I found this great Gauge/Project Table & thought it may help you as well! 


     Wire Cheat Sheet
    Wire Size
    Diameter in Millimeters
    What It's Good For Making:
    14 ga
    1.65 mm
      • clasps
      • thick jump rings
      • chain maille jewellery
      • neck rings
      • bangle bracelets
      • substantial formed links
      • eye pins for beads with very large holes
    16 ga
    1.3 mm
      • clasps
      • thick jump rings
      • chain maille jewellery
      • neck rings
      • bangle bracelets
      • substantial formed links
      • eye pins for beads with large holes
    18 ga
    1.0 mm
      • more delicate clasps
      • jump rings
      • formed links
      • eye pins, head pins
      • wire-wrapping
      • ear-wires (though 20 gauge is more common)
      • fits through most bead holes
    20 ga
    0.8 mm
      • jump rings
      • delicate formed links
      • eye pins
      • head pins
      • wire-wrapped links
      • split-rings
      • earwires
      • fits through most bead holes
    21 ga
    0.75 mm
      • many people buy this odd size gauge specifically for making earwires
    22 ga
    0.65 mm
      • wire-wrapping
      • wire-wrapped head-pins
      • wire-wrapped eye-pins
      • fits through almost all bead holes
    24 ga
    0.5 mm
      • standard size for wire-wrapped bead links and head pins
      • wire-wrapping
      • fits through all but the smallest bead holes. Semi-precious gemstone beads and pearls often have smaller holes than other beads. This gauge fits through almost all of these.
    26 ga
    0.4 mm
      • for wire crochet
      • wire-wrapped bead links and head pins
      • wire-wrapping
      • fits through all but the smallest bead holes. Semi-precious gemstone beads and pearls often have smaller holes than other beads. This gauge should fit through all of these.
    28 ga
    0.32 mm
      • for wire crochet
      • wire-wrapping
      • wire-weaving.
    Wire Sizing Systems
    I'm excited to share a new clasp I'm offering.  
    The hook is made from 18ga copper wire with a glass bead.  
    It's very strong and will take a beating.  
    The patina is new as well..this is a Walnut patina on brass...What do you think?

Look for my new clasp on my Etsy site later today....

Happy Mothers Day to all!

8 comments:

THEAjewellery (lesley) said...

Ooh that's useful - I'm never quite sure if i'm using the right guage and tend to guess. Thanks for sharing.

Clamworks said...

This is great info, thanks for posting!

Yolanda M. said...

Thanks Melinda, this is great! I too always deal with the insecurity of what gauge to use. You're savin me some wire with this, thank you.

Unknown said...

This is GREAT thank you! What a great help just having confirmation and learning a bit more!

becca said...

What an absolutely beautiful clasp!

Linda Landig said...

Thanks for the great chart. So very helpful! Love your new clasp. Stunning!

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