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WIRE GAUGE
ОглавлениеWire thickness is measured in gauge, with smaller numbers denoting thicker wire. In this image, copper wires of four different gauges were wrapped around a 1¼" (3cm)–wide medicine bottle to create identically-sized hoop links. From top to bottom, the gauges used are 14, 16, 18, and 20. All four hoop links are wrapped using 28-gauge wire.
While any link can be created from wire of any gauge, in general, for the projects in this book, 14-, 16-, and 18-gauge wire is used as the main link wire, as these gauges create thick, strong forms. 20-, 24-, and 32-gauge wire is used throughout the projects for the wire-wrapping steps, as thinner wire is more flexible when woven through the bends of the links.
Most jewelry wire is packaged and sold with a US gauge size and a UK millimeter size, but just in case you’re in the UK and don’t have the US gauge, here is a quick reference chart of US gauge and its equivalent millimeter size.
Gauge | Millimeters |
12 | 2mm |
14 | 1.6mm |
16 | 1.3mm |
18 | 1mm |
20 | 0.8mm |
22 | 0.6mm |
24 | 0.5mm |
26 | 0.4mm |
28 | 0.3mm |
30 | 0.25mm |
32 | 0.2mm |
The woven necklace pendant shown here at left is worked using 18-gauge wire for the main bent-wire link and the added bending wires. 22-gauge wire is used to wrap the link as well as to create the bead dangles. The spiral necklace shown here at right is created using extra-thick 12-gauge wire. The wire wrapping is worked in 18-gauge wire—the same gauge used to create the link of the woven necklace pendant.