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Using Silicone Polishing Wheels to Texture Wire Designs

by Kylie Jones
I really love woven wire designs that have a combination of different reflective surfaces. Flat shiny parts next to densely wrapped areas really make designs more interesting as they keep your attention and make you look more closely.
Instructions
Traditionally the flattened wire is hammered but you can quickly flatten parts of your wire designs with a silicon abrasive wheel. Hammering with a flat polished hammer will give you a polished surface. Unlike hammering, the wheels remove the metal rather than pushing it flat, so it won't distort your design. To get a polished finish you will need to go through the grits. You don't need to start with the coarse wheel, you could start with fine and see what you think. These wheels can get into hard to reach areas. They do remove the metal quickly and can cause a bit of chaos if you don't have good control of the wheel.
This surface is made with a coarse silicone polisher. To get a polished finish you will need to go through the grits from coarse to extra fine.
Kylie Jones's Using Silicone Polishing Wheels to Texture Wire Designs - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, silicone wheels for texture
The play of light on a flat surface is very different to a round one. Traditionally a hammer is used to flatten the metal but this can distort the wire. The polishing wheels just remove the top edge of the wire.
Kylie Jones's Using Silicone Polishing Wheels to Texture Wire Designs - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, silicone wheels for texture
Running the wheel evenly and just brushing the surface gives a uniform finish.
Kylie Jones's Using Silicone Polishing Wheels to Texture Wire Designs - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, silicone wheels for texture
The wheels will cut through wire if they stay in the one position for too long, be careful.
Kylie Jones's Using Silicone Polishing Wheels to Texture Wire Designs - , Tools For Wire Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, silicone wheels for texture

Materials

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Tools

Large Silicone Polishing Wheels, White, Coarse Grit, 4 Inches by 1/2 Inch
POL-490.50
  • POL-490.50
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $28.50
  • Gold Club Price: $21.38
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Silicone Polishing Pin Holder, 2 Millimeter Pins, 3/32 Inch Shank
MAN-420.00
  • MAN-420.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.96
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Pumice Wheel, Square Edge, Fine Grit, 7/8 Inch, Pack of 12
POL-350.30
  • POL-350.30
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.95
  • Gold Club Price: $5.96
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Unmounted Silicone Polisher, Square Edge, Pink, Extra Fine Grit, 12 Pack
POL-300.40
  • POL-300.40
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $7.17
  • Gold Club Price: $5.38
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  • Category: Tools
  • Technique(s): Filing / Finishing

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