My one attempt at making BL with wire was not a success, but further to
Lorri's comments about twisting the wires together starting the work
hardening process; if you have access to a small blowtorch plus tongs
and a fire resistant surface you could twist two or three wires
together, anneal them to red heat and then quench in cold water, but
that would also require immersing the annealed wire in 'pickle' - 30%
sulphuric acid - to remove the blackening.
To twist wires together clamp one end of each/all in a vice and the
other ends in the chuck of a hand drill and turn until the desired
amount of twist is achieved. Basic metalwork/jewellery making
techniques.
Brenda
I just work the threads/wires parallel to each other. Just carefully
wind
them on the bobbin evenly. Be sure to turn the bobbin -do not wrap
the wire
around the bobbin.
To ply or twist them together would begin the 'work hardening' process
and
make them more difficult to work with.
Lorri
in snowy Graham, Washington, USA
in the foothills of Mt. Rainier
Subject: [lace] Wire plying?
I have a question. I occasionally dabble in making lace in wire, but
have
never had any formal lessons to help. I know that some of you have a
lot
more experience, and will be able to answer this question.
I know that people talk of working with two or three strands of fine
wire,
in preference to one strand of thicker. I have read that some people
"ply"
the strands together. My question is about this. Do you actually ply
the
threads together (ie twist them together)
- and if so, how do you achieve an even ply -
or do you simply work the threads parallel to each other?
Brenda in Allhallows, Kent
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