Wire Masterclass

Working with different thicknesses of copper and brass wire. Experimented with wire twisting and annealing to make the metal more malleable.

Annealing

Cut lengths of wire and wrap them in coils using iron binding wire. Light the torch and add the right amount of oxygen until you get a blue flame with orange tips. Heat the metal until it becomes a cherry red colour. Quench and remove binding wire. Put the coil in the pickle, make sure no binding wire goes in the bath. Once removed from the pickle, rinse under water and scrub with pumice, soap and water. Dry thoroughly.

Twisting and Straightening Wire

Cut a length of annealed wire and clamp one end in the vice. Hold the other end of the wire with a set of tongs and pull the wire until it starts to stretch. To twist a length of wire, fold the straightened piece in half and clamp the two ends in the vice. Take a hand drill with a loop on the end and hook it onto the folded wire. Slowly, while pulling on the wire, begin turning the drill. Keep twisting until there is an even twist in the wire.

Soldering Twisted Wire

Generously cover the section of twisted wire with flux and gently heat with the torch (the torch flame should be fiercer than the one used to anneal). Take a large chunk of hard solder and place it on one side of the wire. Heat again with the torch and once the solder has flowed, slowly draw it along the wire with the torch. If the solder stops moving, place another piece at the other end of the wire and follow the same steps. Quench the wire and put it in the pickle bath. Remove the piece from the pickle, clean up with the pumice and dry thoroughly.