Corraling your Wire Scraps
by Karen Meador, Ph.D.
What's your method of saving scrap wire and metal? I have designated containers for both copper and sterling silver. It's easy for me to toss larger pieces into them and I'm pretty faithful about getting most scrap into the containers which have large top openings. Yet, those pesky little ends that I snipped off the wire when making wrapped loops, clasps, etc. don't always find the right home. They stay on my beading mat until it's time to clean the surface. When I'm hurrying to start the next project, I tend to want to just dump the tiny pieces on my mat into the trash. (shame on me!)
Instructions
I'm doing much better now that I've taped small plastic bags to my work space. I have one bag for silver and one for copper.
These bags are just for the tiny pieces of wire that have been snipped from pieces. I'm learning to put the snippets right in the proper bag after they fall to the beading mat. It's no trouble to do and saves me from having a big mess at the end of a project. Later, when a bag is full or when I'm turning in scrap, I empty the little bags into the containers with the larger pieces. The weight of the wire saved this way is minimal, but at least the pieces don't find their way to the landfill.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Corraling your Wire Scraps - , General Education, , scrap metal
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Corraling your Wire Scraps - , General Education, , save scrap

Materials

20 Gauge Half Round Half Hard .925 Sterling Silver Wire
H8-20HRH
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $1.42
  • Gold Club Price: $1.06
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20 Gauge Dead Soft Fine Silver Sheet - 6 Inches
H9-20SM6
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
  • Price: $46.96
  • Gold Club Price: $35.22
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Tools

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Xuron Shear - Serrated
SHR-691.80
  • SHR-691.80
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $28.25
  • Gold Club Price: $21.19
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French Shears - Straight Shear with Spring
SHR-530.01
  • SHR-530.01
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $25.97
  • Gold Club Price: $19.48
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education