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Daily Wire Tip May 3: Forging Gold Filled Wire

By on May 2, 2011
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
May 3, 2011

Question:

I am pretty new at wire jewelry and loving it. My question is: If I were to use 18 or 16-gauge gold filled wire to make a coil, and wanted to flatten it with a hammer, would the metal underneath the gold show?

-Jayne in Haltom City, Texas

Answer:

Hi Jayne, I think we all enjoy hammering wire, the larger the better! Speaking from my experience, both personal and in the classroom, I have hammered gold-filled wire for years and I have never had the base metal show as a result, and neither have my students. When this wire is hammered and flattened (also called “forging”), yes, the thick layer of precious metal is stretched a bit thinner. However, it does not crack, peel or come off in any manner.

I particularly enjoy forging heavier gauges such as 16 and 18, either round or square – the resulting difference in the look is pretty cool. On round wire you can flatten it in select areas for a unique shape, and then even use the embossing head (round/ball peen) to texture or dimple those flattened segments, adding even more interest to a component!

For details about the construction of gold-filled wire, check out our Glossary of Jewelry Terms. We have also had a great discussion describing the similarities and differences in types of gold-filled wire used in jewelry making, titled What is Rolled Gold Wire? So go ahead and start hammering!

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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One Comment

  1. avatar

    Joni Stinson

    May 3, 2011 at 8:37 am

    That was a great question and I’m glad to hear the answer. I love the forged look of many pieces of jewelry. Thanks for sharing this information.