Practicing is the key to becoming familiar with different types of wire.  The more you use them and try different types, the more you will learn the qualities of each type.  This will Also allow you to gain knowledge of which type works best for different projects.

 

The first type of wire is copper.  This is a great choice to practice with. It is easy to find, especially at hardware stores and is affordable.  It also looks great with earth tone beads.

 

Galvanized is also a good type to practice with.  It is a dull silver color.  You often are able to find it also at your local hardware store. 

 

Sterling silver, which by the way is one of my favorites, is 92.50 percent pure silver.  The word sterling is what indicates the amount of silver there is.  The other part is a mixture of metal alloys.  This part of the make up is what adds strength to the wire.  Sterling makes beautiful jewelry, however it does tarnish.

 

Fine silver is almost 100 percent pure silver.  The actual percentage is 99.9.  Since fine silver does not have as many alloys a sterling it is softer.  The lack of alloys allows pieces made with fine silver to tarnish sliver.

 

Keep in mind once you get in to the sterling silver and fine silver the cost goes up.  Make sure you practice until you are comfortable working with wire before moving up.  It is definitely less costly to make mistakes on the copper or galvanized wire.

 

Amy

The Painted House and More

www.amyspaintedhouseandmore.com