HOW TO WORK HARDEN JEWELRY MAKING WIRE
Here we share with you simple ways you can work harden metal wire for your jewelry designs
What Is Work Hardening?
Work hardening in jewelry making, is the process of changing the temper of the wire to make the wire stronger.
Why Do I Need To Work Harden My Wire?
Metal jewelry wire comes in a range of hardness - soft, half hard and hard.
When using soft wire for example, you will find that it is really easy to bend out of shape which means you need to work harden it to withstand your chosen design and ensure it doesn't lose its shape.
Can You Undo Work Hardening?
Although it's not really necessary for wire wrapping techniques, you can undo work hardening by the process of annealing.
This is heating the wire to a certain temperature which will soften it and make it malleable again.
Can You Work Harden Too Much?
Yes! Be aware that work hardening metal wire too much can make it brittle and can cause it to snap.
Always keep testing your wire during the process of work hardening to ensure it isn't being worked on more than necessary.
If you find that the wire is on the edge of breaking, you can anneal it to avoid this from happening.
Do I Have To Work Harden Before Starting My Design?
This depends on your chosen design however if you can, it's recommended to start work hardening before creating your design.
Be careful if you are work hardening later on, especially if you have added gemstones as you don't want to risk damaging them.
What Metal Can You Work Harden?
You can work harden most jewelry making wire including silver, brass, copper and gold.
We would recommend doing some research if you plan on using another metal before going ahead.
Option 1: Use Nylon Jaw Pliers
Pull And Squeeze
Nylon Jaw Pliers are an essential for all jewellers working with wire.
Not only are they great as they don't mark or scratch your work, they can also be used to work harden your wire - and to straighten it too!
Simply pull the wire through the jaws multiple times until the wire feels stiff.
They are also great for squeezing over finished pieces of jewelry to add that extra strength.
SHOP NYLON JAW PLIERS WITH BEADED CREATIONS HERE
These professional quality pliers are made of Carbon Steel which is anti-rust and wear-resistant.
They are great for opening and closing large jump rings or when using wire wrapping techniques.
These pliers are particularly useful to straighten out wire too.
The double leaf springs and box-joint construction makes it durable and sturdy for long-time use, and the nylon jaws can easily be replaced when necessary.
Manufactured especially for those who work metal wire to prevent nicks or chips on the color coatings of the wire.
Also useful for handling anodized or enameled pieces.
The non-slip ergonomics design blue PVC handles are great for comfort and easy grip, with less hand and wrist fatigue.
The plies are 14 cm long, and the tip width can be opened to 7.8cm, will work well with soft wire.
Option 2: Twist The Wire
Hold And Twist
This is another simple and quick way to work harden your metal before using it.
Use flat nose or chain nose pliers to hold the wire between the tips of the pliers, hold tight and twist until it hardens.
We love using this technique before especially on 0.3mm wire which is quite thin and could easily lose its shape.
SHOP PLIERS WITH BEADED CREATIONS HERE
Option 3: Tap With A Hammer
This technique is great for using on pieces like ear wires and hoops to strengthen them.
All you need to do is place your piece onto the steel block and use a hammer to gently tap the piece until it hardens.
A rawhide mallet is great to use as it won't damage your work, a chasing hammer on the other hand will flatten your work slightly as well as harden it.
You can also use the rounded end of a chasing hammer to create a gorgeous hammered textured effect, which will also harden it in the process.
Rawhide Mallet
Use a Rawhide Mallet for shaping and forming metal without leaving any hammer marks!
Chasing Hammer
Also known as a repousse hammer - this is a great tool for forming and raising shapes from sheet metal.