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Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire

by Susan LeGuyader
We all love our trusty round wire because it is the backbone of so many beautiful pieces.

But what if you could add instant dimension and character with just one simple change? Enter flat wire.

Whether you are creating a clasp, a focal detail, or a subtle accent, flattening your own wire is an easy and affordable way to elevate your designs.

Best of all, you do not need fancy equipment. All you need is a hammer, a bench block, and your imagination.
Instructions
Let's face it, we use round wire for almost everything.

We might texture it with a hammer, but it is still round wire.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, using flat wire
What if you went outside the box and used flattened wire for your clasp? It would add dimension and a bit of extra to your design.

Of course, you COULD purchase flat wire but it is super simple to get this look all on your own without buying extra.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, working with flat wire
There are a couple of ways to flatten wire.

You can use a rolling mill, if you are fortunate enough to have one, or a hammer and bench block.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, using flat wire
Both methods create the same look, and you can control exactly how flat you want the wire to be.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, using flat wire
For this project, I used 16-gauge copper wire.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, using flat wire
Once your wire is flat, go about making a clasp as you normally would.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, making a clasp with flat wire
As you can see from the finished clasp, it is pretty, functional and just a bit different than the ordinary clasp.
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, using flat wire
What else can you dream up to use flat wire?
Susan LeGuyader's Up Your Design Game with Flat Wire - , Wire Jewelry Design, Forging, Forging Jewelry, Jewelry Forging, finished photo after using flat wire

Materials

18 Gauge Round Dead Soft Copper Wire
H11-18D
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 5FT
  • Price: $3.53
  • Gold Club Price: $2.65
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Tools

4oz Ball Peen Hammer with Wooden Handle
G3-36
  • G3-36
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $5.25
  • Gold Club Price: $3.94
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Steel and Rubber Bench Block 4x4 Inches
G17-44
  • G17-44
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $29.95
  • Gold Club Price: $22.46
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  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Forging

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