Lapidaryforum.net
Rockin' Jewelry => Gold, Silver, Other Metals, Casting and Fabrication => Topic started by: Bluetangclan on September 22, 2017, 10:06:45 AM
-
Looking to make an order for some silver to make mostly pendants, earings, and rings. I have taken classes on it but its been awhile and for some reason I didn't take good notes on that in particular. I am trying to remember gauges of silver and sizes. Very poor at the whole metric thing so looking at mm measurements doesn't help me visualize what I need(I hate it when people put stones in mm online). I swam 2 miles today instead of one for example because I did the meter conversion wrong, math is hard :P.
Anyway rather than buying a mix of gauges and spending a butt load to figure out what I actually need I figured I would ask the silver folks here. Mostly just commonly used sizes for soldering. Back plates for pendants, bezels for holding stones, both tall stones and tiny stones. Common gauged wire used for various soldering projects, I like double half rounds for easy rings.
-
I'm the same way with metrics.
Just remember, larger gauges on metals and wire mean thinner
-
I know. Its like shotgun ammo, the smaller it is the bigger it is. I am trying to get a baseline pile of silver to start making things and needing to know the particular gauges I should pick up in a bulk buy to make some fairly uncomplicated rings and pendants.
-
I'm a relative novice to the silver smithing world as well. I also don't have money to blow on all sorts of experimental sizes of base metal. If I were to recommend the essentials, I would suggest:
24 ga. sterling sheet for backing (I used 26 ga. as well but found the 24 didn't warp as much when heated.)
1/8 in. silver bezel, 28 ga.
18 ga. sterling round wire for loops
You can do a lot with just this and some imagination.
I also do a lot with nickel silver sheet for back plate. It's hella cheaper when you're experimenting, and silver bezel solders to it nicely. Granted, it doesn't have the luster of sterling, but for backing who cares? I do all my bola's with 18 ga. nickel for backing.
-
That's what I was looking for, thanks. I can work from there as a baseline. Neat nickel trick.
-
I use 22g for all my pendants in fine silver.
I am betting you can go thinner in sterling as it will harden better, but i like my clients to have less tarnish issues.
-
I use 22 gauge sterling for back plates and may even go thicker if I do piercing. I might do as light as 24 or 26 gauge for earring backs due to the desire for less weight. My cuff bracelets are usually 18 gauge.