Ask the Experts Creating Earrings with Wire Q&A

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.

A variety of gauges of wire to make shapes. We find that 21 through 18 gauges of wire are the easiest to maneuver that will keep a shape. The larger gauge of the wire, the more difficult it will become to get a sharp bend.

You can use dead soft or half hard. We recommend half hard wire to make shapes most easily keep a shape. Though if you choose to use dead soft for more malleability in shaping the wire, you can work harden the wire after it is shaped by hammering it with a nylon or rawhide mallet on a rubber block without marring or changing the shape of the metal. Just be careful not to hammer overlaps in the wire. The more you hammer it the harder it will become.

- Patti