Working With Wire: What to Bring!

Working With Wire

In this special two day workshop, students will learn to harness the possibilities of wire. From structural forms to chains, clasps and rivets, this valuable set of skills will enhance whatever you create, be it assemblage, jewelry or fixing something around the house!

REQUIRED TOOLS/MATERIALS:

The tools below are things you will be certainly using in the workshop, and to avoid having to wait for a communal tool to become available, you should plan on getting them for the class:

Note: Volcano Book Arts has a great Metalsmithing starter kit for $54 that comes with a jeweler's saw, Bench Pin, Saw Blades, Rawhide Mallet, Needle Files, Wooden Hand Vise (ring clamp), 2 Storage Tubes for Blades. This will take care of all those items on the list in one hit, so it's recommended: <http://www.volcanoarts.biz/cart/metalsmithing/index.htm> "Metalsmithing Starter Tool Kit"

• roll of 're-bar tie wire': Found for around $5 in hardware stores in the construction materials section, near the cinder block and chain-link fencing. IMPORTANT: make sure it is steel or iron wire, NOT galvanized!...it should be dark grey-black) If met with blank stares, tell them it's for tying re-bar rod together. NOTE: You won't need to haul the whole roll, as it's quite heavy - bring 1/3 of it with you and you'll have plenty!

• roll of 19 guage 'dark annealed' steel wire: <http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/u154609>

• Flush-cutter. An absolutely brilliant pair of cutters can be found here: <http://www.americanjewelrysupply.com/products/jewelry/plier26.html>
Specify the FLUSH-CUT model. They cost $32. If you cut wire with any frequency, these are more than worth the money. I covet my pair, which I paid way too much for ($70!), but even so, I wouldn't give them up for anything. However, if you want a cheaper alternative ($7), these will do: <http://wire-sculpture.com/item.php?item=G2-6&curFile=wholesalecloseouts>
or cheaper still ($3), for those who aren't planning on using them much outside the class time: <http://wire-sculpture.com/item.php?item=G2-59&curFile=wholesalecloseouts>

• rawhide mallet (about a 4oz. is perfect: <http://www.hammersource.com/Mallets.html>)

• small bench vise (about a 3" jaw is fine, or even smaller if you find one...most hardware stores have a few sizes)

• steel bench block: <http://www.jatayu.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=J&Product_Code=TAV-0100> Be sure to bring a small piece of leather or hard rubber to put under your block--it'll make it much quieter!

• a regular hammer (of the kind everyone has sitting around in the tool drawer)

• a regular pair of utility pliers

• jewelry pliers: a round-nose, flat-nose, side cutter (if you don't have any jewelry pliers, here's an inexpensive well-made set of four:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=3&subsub=63&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871>
and click on the link that says 'Valueline Pliers, set of 4')

• a small jewelry plier with a serrated edge on the inside (gripping edge)

• small file (any fine-tooth file will do)

• Power drill (a decent cordless drill is a great tool for your workshop. Here's an indicative one: <http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-CD9602K-9-6-Volt-Cordless/dp/B0000C6DX1/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1218464546&sr=1-3>), OR a small hand drill (Fiskars makes a wonderful and very inexpensive one: <http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-8511-6984-PowerGrip-Drill/dp/B00004T80S>)

• drill bits (any standard hardware-store set)

• extra 1/16" drill bit

• fine steel wool (find it in a paint-supply section of a hardware store) or Scotch-Brite pad

• spring-loaded, or 'automatic' center punch. Can be found at most hardware stores, but go here to see what they look like: <http://www.tools-plus.com/gen77.html>

• Riveting hammer. Available for about $7 from Gesswein or any other jewelry supply store. On this page, scroll down to the 'Swiss-style riveting hammer' to see the type that's best: <http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=5&subsub=2&catalog=1&CFID=267209&CFTOKEN=86567434>

• Piece of scrap wood to drill into

• 1 or 2 bar clamps (an excellent bar clamp called 'Quik-Grip' can be found at Home Depot...get the smallest ones available)

• a decent quality beeswax furniture wax polish (not the liquid, but the wax in a flat can), or, if you want the the best, a can of Rennaisance Wax: <http://www.restorationproduct.com/>

• an assortment of found objects that you can practice joining or embellishing with wire...see the Precious Little supply list for possible things to bring in this vein.

HELPFUL TOOLS (NOT REQUIRED):

• foam ear plugs, if you're sensitive to hammering (we'll keep the noise down as much as possible, but there will be some, so just to be safe....

• jeweller's saw with a 4" to 6" frame depth <http://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Jewelers-Frame-Throat-Polished/dp/B0000WTA5Y>

• saw blades (get two sizes:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=9&subsub=3&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871>,
1 dz. of the 1 size (#185-0100) and 1 dz. of 2/0 size (#185-0020)

Please email me with any questions you might have that this page didn't address.

See you there! Keith

	Working With Wire In this special two day workshop, students will learn to harness the possibilities of wire. From structural forms to chains, clasps and rivets, this valuable set of skills will enhance whatever you create, be it assemblage, jewelry or fixing something around the house! REQUIRED TOOLS/MATERIALS: The tools below are things you will be certainly using in the workshop, and to avoid having to wait for a communal tool to become available, you should plan on getting them for the class: Note: Volcano Book Arts has a great Metalsmithing starter kit for $54 that comes with a jeweler's saw, Bench Pin, Saw Blades, Rawhide Mallet, Needle Files, Wooden Hand Vise (ring clamp), 2 Storage Tubes for Blades. This will take care of all those items on the list in one hit, so it's recommended: <http://www.volcanoarts.biz/cart/metalsmithing/index.htm> "Metalsmithing Starter Tool Kit" • roll of 're-bar tie wire': Found for around $5 in hardware stores in the construction materials section, near the cinder block and chain-link fencing. IMPORTANT: make sure it is steel or iron wire, NOT galvanized!...it should be dark grey-black) If met with blank stares, tell them it's for tying re-bar rod together. NOTE: You won't need to haul the whole roll, as it's quite heavy - bring 1/3 of it with you and you'll have plenty! • roll of 19 guage 'dark annealed' steel wire: <http://www.hardwareandtools.com/invt/u154609> • Flush-cutter. An absolutely brilliant pair of cutters can be found here: <http://www.americanjewelrysupply.com/products/jewelry/plier26.html> Specify the FLUSH-CUT model. They cost $32. If you cut wire with any frequency, these are more than worth the money. I covet my pair, which I paid way too much for ($70!), but even so, I wouldn't give them up for anything. However, if you want a cheaper alternative ($7), these will do: <http://wire-sculpture.com/item.php?item=G2-6&curFile=wholesalecloseouts> or cheaper still ($3), for those who aren't planning on using them much outside the class time: <http://wire-sculpture.com/item.php?item=G2-59&curFile=wholesalecloseouts> • rawhide mallet (about a 4oz. is perfect: <http://www.hammersource.com/Mallets.html>) • small bench vise (about a 3" jaw is fine, or even smaller if you find one...most hardware stores have a few sizes) • steel bench block: <http://www.jatayu.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=J&Product_Code=TAV-0100> Be sure to bring a small piece of leather or hard rubber to put under your block--it'll make it much quieter! • a regular hammer (of the kind everyone has sitting around in the tool drawer) • a regular pair of utility pliers • jewelry pliers: a round-nose, flat-nose, side cutter (if you don't have any jewelry pliers, here's an inexpensive well-made set of four: <http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=3&subsub=63&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871> and click on the link that says 'Valueline Pliers, set of 4') • a small jewelry plier with a serrated edge on the inside (gripping edge) • small file (any fine-tooth file will do) • Power drill (a decent cordless drill is a great tool for your workshop. Here's an indicative one: <http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-CD9602K-9-6-Volt-Cordless/dp/B0000C6DX1/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1218464546&sr=1-3>), OR a small hand drill (Fiskars makes a wonderful and very inexpensive one: <http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-8511-6984-PowerGrip-Drill/dp/B00004T80S>) • drill bits (any standard hardware-store set) • extra 1/16" drill bit • fine steel wool (find it in a paint-supply section of a hardware store) or Scotch-Brite pad • spring-loaded, or 'automatic' center punch. Can be found at most hardware stores, but go here to see what they look like: <http://www.tools-plus.com/gen77.html> • Riveting hammer. Available for about $7 from Gesswein or any other jewelry supply store. On this page, scroll down to the 'Swiss-style riveting hammer' to see the type that's best: <http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=5&subsub=2&catalog=1&CFID=267209&CFTOKEN=86567434> • Piece of scrap wood to drill into • 1 or 2 bar clamps (an excellent bar clamp called 'Quik-Grip' can be found at Home Depot...get the smallest ones available) • a decent quality beeswax furniture wax polish (not the liquid, but the wax in a flat can), or, if you want the the best, a can of Rennaisance Wax: <http://www.restorationproduct.com/> • an assortment of found objects that you can practice joining or embellishing with wire...see the Precious Little supply list for possible things to bring in this vein. HELPFUL TOOLS (NOT REQUIRED): • foam ear plugs, if you're sensitive to hammering (we'll keep the noise down as much as possible, but there will be some, so just to be safe.... • jeweller's saw with a 4" to 6" frame depth <http://www.amazon.com/Grobet-Jewelers-Frame-Throat-Polished/dp/B0000WTA5Y> • saw blades (get two sizes: <http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=9&subsub=3&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871>, 1 dz. of the 1 size (#185-0100) and 1 dz. of 2/0 size (#185-0020) Please email me with any questions you might have that this page didn't address. See you there! Keith