Q: I would like to know what wire to use for bead crochet.

Q: Which precious metal wire forms the best, and does it hold its shape?

Q: How do you cut memory wire into individual loops for use with strand separators?

Q: What is the best size and type of sterling silver wire to make earring wires?

Q: Would you please explain the differences of sterling silver wire dead soft/half hard and what type of projects they are best suited for. Thank you much!

Q: My children tangled my memory wire--is there an easy way to untangle it for use? Thank you!!

Q: I just bought some beads, charms and hoops to make wine charms. They look great, but the beads fall off easily. Do you have any suggestions for what I could do to fix this? I bought 25mm, 24-gauge hoops. Thanks!

Q: Could you please tell me the best way to straighten wire for wrapping, as coiled wire is still curved? Thanks

Q: Could you please do a video on twisting wire using a pin vise—I have a pin vise from Fire Mountain and do not know how to use it. The wooden knob swivels, but the wire does not twist. Thank you

Q: I want to make a necklace by memory wire, but the diameter of the necklace memory wire is smaller than the diameter of the necklace that I want to make. How can I make the wire open a little bit bigger than its memory diameter?

Q: Is nickel used in the making of copper wire for jewelry?

Q: I want to make my own ear wires. My "affordable" jewelry is made with sterling silver plated wire that has a clear tarnish resistant coating. Is this kind of wire "safe" to use as ear wires?

Q: I'm making a wind chime from some old stained glass pieces. I bought some memory wire from you a while back, but haven't tried it yet for this purpose. Will it hang straight when used or do you have another idea for connecting my pieces. Thanks!

Q: I would like to make findings using wires. How can I make these? What kind of wire should I use and how can I make a secure finding so that the stone or gem I want to attach will be secure?

Q: I want to string some beads for outdoors. What wire could I use that would not rust? Thanks

Q: What type of half-round wire do you recommend for wire wrapping jewelry?

Q: What is the best gauge wire to use with the wire jig? The best gauge to make jump rings?

Q: What kind of wire do you use to make a hoop earring?

Q: Which wire is best for people who have allergies to nickel? Also, which wires hold up the best with wear and tear?

Q: Is there an easy way to hold wires together when wire-wrapping? Could I use large crimp beads as a holder?

Q: How do I solder gold-filled wire?

Q: Can copper colored aluminum wire be patinated?

Q: Can you explain how to properly use a mandrel when bending memory wire?

Q: I recently purchased a bead ring from a street vendor. The ring's band is made with a smooth silver wire with two loops, then a bead is attached using a thinner wire which is threaded through the ring's loops and twisted to secure. What kind and gauge of hypo-allergenic wire can be used to make a similar ring for my family and friends?

Q: What gauge wire is recommended for making wrapped loops? I've tried the 22 and 24. They are too soft, for me, to work with. Would a lower gauge wire work best? I'm a newbie at this. Also, what would be the equivalent gauge size of a wire diameter of, say, .014 or .015"? I've seen only diameters of wires given, and I have no idea how to determine what the gauge would be.

Q: What is French wire and how do you use it?

Q: What is the best wire for a beginner to use for wire wrapping?

Q: I want to make my own pins using various wire and different gauges of wire, copper, sterling, etc. These pins would be made using one continuous piece of wire. What is the best way to sharpen the pin end?

Q: I'd like to make a very small simple wire chain base for a charm bracelet. Can size 30-34 gauge wire work?

Q: I purchased a string of tourmaline briolettes with the holes cut at the top from Fire Mountain. I want to attach them to a gold filled chain (like a string of fish) for earrings. The problem is the holes are much too small to attach with head pins. I have the 26 gauge gold-filled wire from your catalog--but in a dilemma to get the half-hard or full-hard through to make the twisted loop attachment?

Q: While creating a wire wrap for a very large faceted lemon quartz briolette, I inadvertently caused chipping on each side of the top-drilled hole. I've decided not to use the stone as a briolette since the drill hole is no longer useful. Can I repair the damage and what then can I do with the stone?

Q: I am working with stainless steel wire, knitting a necklace and bracelet. I notice the wire is really dark. What can I do to clean stainless steel wire and make it brighter and more shiny?

Q: Can your new dead soft silver-filled wire be work-hardened?

Q: How do I make a bail for a flat briolette using sterling wire?

Q: I'd like to make a rosary using either wood or glass round beads. What kind of chain do I use? I've never worked with chain before.

Q: What is the most secure way to attach a charm or bead to chain?

Q: Which wire works best when doing a wrapped loop necklace or earrings? Or which gauge? I want it to look delicate.

Q: How do you bend 16- or 18-gauge wire into a neckwire or choker?

Q: I am making a rosary and am looking for the thickest and strongest eye pin. I have had trouble with the loops stretching open under normal stress. Any suggestions?

Q: In general, what is the best gauge and hardness of wire recommended for making earrings?

Q: When working with round and square precious-metal and color-coated wire, how can I make the same size loops so my project has a consistent look?

Q: What gauge of metal wire should I use for making a beaded Christmas tree with size 11/0 seed beads? The wire needs to be strong enough to support the weight of many glass seed beads, plus miniature ornaments of metal and glass, but it also needs to be narrow enough to fit through the seed bead holes. Thanks for your help!

Q: I'm just learning to work with wire. I'm ordering a jig, but have no idea what wire type, gauge, hardness, etc., to use. Can you give me some guidelines please?

Q: I bought some metal beads that go onto the ends of memory wire. The hole doesn't go all the way through. How do I keep that end bead on the memory wire?

Q: Does the color wear off of the niobium jump rings?

Q: Can I make earwires from niobium? Can I melt a ball on the end of this wire with a torch?

Q: Is Zebra Wire tempered as Full/Hard, Half/Hard or Dead Soft? Is Zebra Wire suitable for projects that need to be bent and will it stay wrapped?

Q: Can Zebra wire be polished?

Q: I am designing a piece which uses mostly seed beads (11/0) on a fine wire, which has to bend and then double-back through some small gem beads a second time. The wire has to be thin enough to go through 4mm gem beads twice, but still hold the shape to which I bend it. What do you suggest?

Q: I would like to form my own wire wrapped cones. How do I make these?

Q: I have a pretty rose cabochon with petals that can't be set in a bezel. Should I wire wrap it—if so, how do I do this? Thank you.

Q: When I am making simple loops and otherwise finishing jewelry, my thumbnail seems to take the most abuse. Is there anything I can put over my thumbnail to keep it from damage?

Q: What is the best silver wire to use that will not tarnish over the years? I am going to be decorating some hair combs for a wedding.

Q: I was surfing through a tool catalog and saw some rust- and corrosion-resistant 20 gauge x 25 foot mechanics wire with a 40 lb. maximum load capacity. It is Zinc-plated steel wire. I suppose the best question is..is it usable for jewelry and, if so, what about allergies. Thanks so much for your help.

Q: What is the difference between German Craft Wire and Artistic Craft Wire and which is better?

Q: My wire keeps breaking when I am using my wire twister tool. Sometimes the wire breaks off in the twister and other times the folded end will break in the vice. This can happen after only a few twists. How can I keep my wire from breaking?

Q: First, how can I solder silver-filled pieces onto copper or brass without the alloys in the silver-filled showing? And for this reason, I'm assuming silver-filled CANNOT be annealed? Second, do some metals take longer to anneal than others? I'm new to jewelry making and will be working with copper, brass and sterling silver. Thank you for your time.

Q: I would like to wirewrap gemstone rondelles and link them together to form a gemstone chain. I would like to use liver of sulfur to oxidize the chain. Is it safer to oxidize the wire before or after wirewrapping the gemstones beads into the chain?

Q: I like to make my own earwires and findings from sterling wire. I've heard of tumbling them to harden them, but is this necessary? If so, how do I go about doing that? What equipment do I need to strengthen sterling findings (without changing their texture)? Thank you!

Q: I am trying to use argentium wire for wire wrapping--I cannot straighten it--it has a mind of its own--should I anneal it?

Q: We make silverware jewelry. We like to use gemstones in the center of our bracelets. After wearing for awhile, the wire breaks. I have tried different wire, etc. but have not solved the problem. We use the half hard 24-gauge sterling. Another jeweler suggested we try using virgin silver wire and then tumbling our pieces to work-harden. How do you tumble the finished product without damaging the stones? I cannot figure out a way to tumble the piece without the stone set. Is there a product to cover and protect the stones, etc while polishing? Also, I have tried a few different methods trying to get a gloss on polished gemstones when they are not premium grade. Is there a product that we can use on a Ruby to add luster which will harden and not damage the stone? The last one I tried I thought was the answer, however, after a few weeks the surface seem to soften. Thanks.

Q: How do I cut soft aluminum wire (16 ga) to get a crisp cut? When I use my wire cutters, the ends get that squashed look, like when I cut cookie dough.

Q: I'm interested in making some decorative hair combs, but I would actually like to make my own hair comb out of wire. I've been looking everywhere for instructions, and can't seem to find any. Do you know of a pattern that is available for making the actual comb?

Q: Can the Wrap-it® Wire in jeweler's bronze be oxidized? Since its mainly copper, will liver of sulfur work to give it a patina?

Q: I do wire work with mostly sterling silver and 14k gold-filled wire. My silver scraps I send to a local artist who works with silver but what can I do with my gold-filled scraps?

Q: How should I finish off a crocheted wire necklace with 3 strands or more? I have seen instructions to glue the wires, but I have more than 3 wires so it is heavy. Please let me know what to do and what to use.

Q: I want to create earrings by bending, shaping, bending back and so on. I design as I go but not sure what gauge and softness to use.

Q: I am going to make some wind chimes with glass beads. What type and size wire should I use? Thanks.

Q: I am creating a necklace with rather heavy beads and am thinking about using 22 ga wire but have no idea how to finish it. I don’t think there’s a crimp big enough...HELP!

Q: If I want to make an S-hook shape out of a sterling silver round wire to join the ends of a bracelet, is half hard the best? I know that dead soft is way too soft and malleable, and I think full hard would require way too much force to be able to shape by hand with needle nose pliers.

Q: I am making a sun catcher to go outside, hanging on a tree. It will have seed beads (#11 the smallest) as well as large glass beads. What is the strongest wire to use that will go through these beads twice, and will not rust? Do I really need to run the wire through twice?

Q: What size wire should I use for wrapping beads to hoops?

Q: Dear Fire Mountain, what tools should I use to cut and finish my memory wire jewelry?

Q: I want to make my own ear wires. What type of wire should I use?