Brenda Schweder, Featured Wire Jewelry Instructor

by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Wire Jewelry Inspiration for
January 2, 2013

Featured Instructor: Brenda Schweder

Steel wire has become Brenda’s signature look! She’s written books on the subject of making jewelry on the "dark side" with steel, including her latest, Steel Wire Jewelry. And she’s taught steel jewelry classes all over the country. I know what you’re wondering – and yes, we are thrilled to have Brenda Schweder as one of the JewelryTools.com instructors this year in Tucson, Feb. 1-12, at the JOGS Show in Tucson, Arizona!

Click Below to explore Brenda’s Classes this February in Tucson:

Beady-Eyed Bangles with Swarovski Elements Feb. 1, morning	Riveting! Leather-Tiled Cuff with Swarovski Elements 2 chances to take this class: Feb 1, afternoon Feb 4, afternoon	New Miami Earrings with Swarovski Elements Feb 2, morning
Colorbox Garden Necklace with Swarovski Elements Feb 2, afternoon	GypsyTown Necklace with Swarovski Elements Feb 3, afternoon	SoPrettyRainbowComet Bangle with Swarovski Elements Feb 4, morning

Gravitate to something that resonates with your style. -Brenda Schweder

What’s it like to work with Steel?

Steel is matte, not shiny. It’s also cost effective. Dark annealed steel comes as dead-soft, which is comparable to half-hard sterling silver, and steel work-hardens about 2 to 3 times slower than other metals. It’s commonly found in hardware stores as tie wire for rebar in construction.

Of course, the downside of steel is that it rusts! And not only does it rust, but it comes off in a black powder while you’re working. You can clean your steel jewelry with a wire brush (like a brass brush) or steel wool. Then, you must finish your steel wire in a material such as Renaissance Wax. This will seal and protect your steel jewelry from rust and discoloration!

You can apply wax before or after working with the wire, but to prevent being short, or getting gunk on beads, Brenda recommends to start clean, and wipe down with wax on a t-shirt after.

Brenda’s tips for working with Steel

-Use dedicated tools if you also use other metals. Steel is mostly iron with a bit of carbon, and this carbon black residue can rub off on tools, and the wire can also do a number on weaker tools. Make sure to use a heavy-duty cutter. Xuron cutters would be up to the task for most gauges!

-Get ergonomic tools, because this is steel, after all. Brenda recommends pliers with handles that fill the palm, especially when making repetitive movements, and look for pliers with larger, heftier jaws. To harden and flatten your pieces, borrow a hammer from your husband’s workbench or add one to your own collection – look for a 6oz hammer.

-Use safety equipment, like safety glasses. to protect yourself. Watch the end of the wire when you’re cutting! A good pair of grippy gloves will also help protect your hands and give you more hand power.

-Make sure you buy dark annealed steel, which is flexable, and not stainless or galvanized steel, because those are much stiffer, and much harder to work with!

You can meet Brenda on her website, and be sure to check out all her Tucson classes. We hope to see you there! I’ll be featuring more wire jewelry teachers who will be teaching with us in Tucson, in the coming days. I can’t wait!

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8 Comments

1. 

   Rose Barden

   January 3, 2013 at 8:29 am

   As for the steel wire, my concern is the matching of the ear wire part; being we can purchase a t hardware store. How would that effect the ears if a person is sensitive.

   Rose Barden
   Tampa, Florida
   • 

     Rose

     January 4, 2013 at 10:35 am

     Hi Rose,
     You can likely find black annealed steel in a good gauge for ear wires, 22 or so, at your hardware store. If you have someone who’s sensitive to this type of steel, just switch them out for the gold-filled or sterling ear wires they can tolerate. The findings don’t have to match.

     Also, if for example you’re using a sterling silver ear hook, you could use a little bit of sterling silver – say, a 26-gauge wrap wire – in the earring, so that there’s an element of silver in the body of the earring, too.

     Hope this helps
     Rose
2. 

   Brenda Schweder

   January 3, 2013 at 7:38 pm

   Thanks, Rose! I can’t wait to see you, the Jewelry Tools team, and our fabulous, fabulous workshop attendees again!

   Today it is 20-some degrees in Wisconsin, so I’m putting in my warm weather order for Tucson in early February!

   See you soon!
   oxox!
   -b.
   • 

     Rose

     January 4, 2013 at 6:32 pm

     Brr! We saw single digits here this morning, boo hoo! Not only is Tucson going to be warm, but we’re going to be indoors for classes, too! I can’t wait!
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