Ask the Experts Half-Hard and Full-Hard Wire Uses Q&A

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!

- Cheryl

Precious metal wire is used for wire-wrapping, chain-making and other jewelry construction. Precious metal wire is available in:

• Five metals:
• Gold-filled
• Fine silver
• Argentium® sterling silver
• Sterling silver
• Sterling silver-filled
• Nine shapes:
• Round
• Half-round
• Low domed
• Oval
• Square
• Textured flat
• Triangular
• Twisted round
• Twisted square
  
• Three types of hardness:
• Dead-soft wire is extremely malleable and can be bent easily into a myriad of shapes. If you use dead-soft wire to create an element that will be put under a lot of stress, such as a clasp, it is recommended to harden the wire after shaping.
  To harden the wire—so it can hold up to stress—place it onto an anvil and strike it with a hammer. Please note: This will cause impressions in the wire.
• Half-hard wire is malleable; however, it will maintain an intricate shape under moderate stress. It is useful for weight-bearing parts of wire-wrapped jewelry.
  You can also harden half-hard wire so it can be used for an element that may be subjected to high stress, such as a clasp.
• Full-hard wire holds its shape for wire-wrapping jewelry. Its tempered nature holds intricate designs well and is excellent for clasps.
  

Wire size is determined by gauge or thickness of the wire. Wire-gauge ranges from a very fine 34-gauge to a very heavy 12-gauge. It is best to choose the diameter that suits the size of your piece.

For instructions on working with wire, it is recommended to take a class, visit our wireworking resources or review a few books to see which one covers the specific topic you're interested in.

- Tammy Honaman, Author, Jewelry-Making Expert and Educator