WigJig Jewelry Making University - Wire Hardness

Our WigJig University wire-working question for this lens is about wire hardness. First, what is hardness. Hardness in wire is the resistance of the wire to bending. Soft wire bends very easily. Hard wire is very stiff and wants to retain its original shape. Memory Wire is a good example of a very hard wire. Memory wire resists bending and returns to its original shape if possible.
Hardness is determined by the manufacturing process of the wire. Most precious metal wire is made by pulling the wire through a hole (orifice) of a defined size. Smaller sizes of wire are made by sequentially pulling the wire through progressively smaller holes. Each time the wire is pulled through the hole it becomes harder.

With the manufacture of gold, gold-filled, sterling silver and other precious metal wires, the wires are manufactured with a defined hardness. Manufacturers generally make this wire as a hardness of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4. The hardness of 0 is dead soft wire. The hardness of 4 is fully hardened wire. A hardness of 2 is half-hard wire.

Most wire is sold without an indicated hardness. For the majority of this wire, the absence of a hardness indication means that the wire is dead soft. Brass, copper or Artistic Wire are sold as soft wire. With Niobium wire, this wire is also sold without an indicated hardness and in our experience generally has a hardness of fully hardened.

Each hardness of wire has its own advantages and disadvantages. Soft wire bends easily and makes excellent rounded shapes. Because soft wire bends so easily, it must be hardened after working the wire into a finished jewelry piece. Frequently soft wire is hardened by hammering the finished piece with a hammer and anvil. Soft wire is excellent for making spirals and other rounded shapes, but soft wire will not make crisp corners, by contrast it makes rounded bends. Hard wire is very stiff and requires almost no hardening. Hard wire resists bending, but once enough force is applied hard wire will bend and it makes very crisp, sharp corners. Half-hard wire is a compromise between hard and soft wire. Half-hard wire makes excellent wrapped loops and makes tight corners or bends. Half-hard wire does not make good spirals.

Our experience is that hard wire is too difficult to work with. Half-hard wire works very well when tight bends and wrapped loops are required. Soft wire works best when spirals or other rounded shapes are required.

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