Simple Wire Wrapped Cabochon

Posted by: Suzanne Buckland

Instructor Kerry Ramirez will conduct a workshop in Simple Wire Wrapped Cabochon on July 11, 2015, 2-5PM at Galerie Spectra.
$30 + materials - register online at www.galeriespectra.org

Material List:

Supply List for Simple Wire Wrapped Cabochon-Beginners Class #1
3 18 inch pieces of 20, 21, or 22 gauge square wire (dead soft or soft) NOT BEAD STRINGING WIRE!
2 10 inch pieces of 20, 21, or 22 gauge square wire (dead soft or soft) NOT BEAD STRINGING WIRE!
1 cabochon approximately 20 X 30 millimeters (approximately 1 inch by 1/2 inches)
Note: a flat bead or other flat found object of approximately the same size is ok in place of the cabochon, such as an old watch face, or flat shell
Tools:
1 pair of flat nose pliers cost: about $5.00
1 pair of needle nose pliers cost: about $5.00
1 pair of wire cutter (flush cutters are best) cost about $10.00-15.00. Any pair of wire cutters will do if you do not want to invest in a jewelry wire cutter; it is also possible to cut the soft wire with a pair of scissors, but it is really hard on the scissors!
1 pin vise (or purchase pre-twisted wire) (optional) cost: about $7.00 (A pin vise is used to twist the square wire.)
It is also possible to buy a set of pliers/tools for one price, about $26.00.
The above supplies and tools can all be purchased at Fire Mountain Gems at www.firemountaingems.com or at Walmart in the jewelry supply section or at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby.
The better quality supplies are from jewelry supply sites like firemountaingems.com, but if you are trying to keep your cost of supplies down, the less expensive colored wire that you can find at Michael’s is ok for a beginner. The less expensive tools are ok too, for a beginner, but if you are planning to make a lot of jewelry, it is best to invest in the better quality tools, they last longer. The tools come in handy for making your own jewelry repairs, as well.
I use square or round dead soft sterling silver wire, which can cost $45 for a spool of 25-30 feet, whereas copper wire can be $5.00 for 20 yards! If you are just wanting to learn, than less expensive square or round wire can still be used, such as copper, brass, silver plated, or colored aluminum wire. DO NOT CONFUSE BEAD STRINGING WIRE WITH JEWERLY WRAPPING WIRE, IT IS NOT THE SAME THING! Bead stringing wire can be plastic, plastic coated, or a fiber like silk. The kind of wire we use in this project is for wire wrapping, it is usually metal, like sterling silver, silver filled, gold, gold filled, brass, bronze, aluminum, or copper wire.
Explanation of terms: “Dead Soft” or “Soft” means the wire is very soft and easy to manipulate. As you work with the wire it becomes harder, which is called “work hardening.” If you begin with hard wire it is very difficult to manipulate it by the time you are done with the project, so that is why we start out with dead soft (or soft) wire. As you work with the wire it becomes stronger or harder.
Wire Gauge: Jewelry making wire comes in sizes called “gauge.” The larger the number the smaller the width of the wire (opposite of what you would think). 16 gauge wire is much bigger in width than 30 gauge wire. 20, 21, or 22 gauge wire is about in the middle size range. If you are wire wrapping a big cabochon or big bead, than it can take a bigger gauge wire, maybe 18 gauge. If you are wire wrapping a small cabochon or tiny gemstone, than you will need finer gauge wire, maybe 26 or 28 gauge.
A “cabochon” is a flat-backed gemstone or stone or bead that has a smooth domed top and a flat back. As a beginner, it is easier to wire wrap an object that is relatively flat with a smooth flat back.
The reason you use square wire in this project: Square wire can be left as is or twisted for a nice effect. Round wire can also be used but the result will have a different look. If you can’t find square wire, round will do.