| There are three sterling silver wire work | | | | requirements you need a fair amount in many |
| processes that can change the way you plan and | | | | diameters. |
| work with your material. Knowing these | | | | You don't need that many diameters in your |
| processes can take care of your budget and | | | | supplies box if you learn how to draw and have |
| leave you free to be more creative. | | | | the tools to do it. |
| Key process 1: | | | | You can have any diameter by drawing it thinner. |
| Annealing is the first process that can make your | | | | You can draw your own by investing in a drawing |
| supply last longer. Annealing helps you recycle | | | | plate and a few other tools. |
| your metal that became to hard to work with. | | | | Key process 3: |
| This is the process by which you heat the metal | | | | Thirdly you can recycle your sterling silver by |
| to a certain temperature to relieve it from internal | | | | melting and casting scrap of the metal. |
| stresses caused by working with it. By annealing | | | | As much as you may try to use all your precious |
| the metal you make it pliable and workable. | | | | material economically you end up collecting |
| With a few tools you can recycle your sterling | | | | off-cuts, bits, and pieces. Are these then wasted? |
| silver that was previously labeled as too hard to | | | | The answer is no. Even these bits and pieces are |
| work with. The most important of these tools is | | | | never wasted. |
| a torch. If you do not want to use a torch, you | | | | With a few more tools you can melt, cast and |
| may want to reconsider using it to anneal your | | | | form these bits and pieces back to wire. You can |
| metal. | | | | recycle all your precious metal if you keep it |
| Key process 2: | | | | separate from other materials. |
| Drawing is the second process that can help you | | | | Conclusion: |
| make the most of your supply. | | | | The important spin-off from knowing that you |
| As you become a committed wire artist/worker | | | | can recycle your sterling silver wire is the |
| you start to acquire different diameters. You | | | | freedom to be creative. It comes with the |
| collect the different diameters because you want | | | | knowledge that you are not wasting one bit when |
| to be prepared when you find a project that you | | | | things don't work according to your plan or |
| want to do. To cater for all your possible | | | | inspiration. |