Phosphor bronze

[wirewrangler]

Hi Joyce,
Got mine from Nancy as well.
Having fun!
WW

[Tela]

Yes, it is lovely wire. I want to get some myself. I wonder how the public receives it?

[wirewrangler]

Very similar in reception as with Vintaj, regular brass/bronze or even CU or silver filled for that matter. Because of the price point there is a market.
Full disclosure is key!
WW

[Tela]

Totally-- "full disclosure"

Anyone know where to get 1/2 round?

[wirewrangler]

You know, Tela, you might want to contact Nancy about procuring some half round wire in whatever gauge you desire. She has a really good supplier and what I like about her wire is that it comes annealed (dead soft) making it very workable.

I went all around the net looking for red bronze, it was not easy and most was HH.

I would venture a guess that if you need half round, others would as well. I could use some, but can work around not having it.

Have fun!
WW

[Tela]

I think I will get in touch with her about it. I do a lot of traditional style border wrapping and I don't like to use round for binding.

I was looking into this wire when someone, I hate to say- I forgot who, posted on JL with it and answered a bunch of questions about it. It seems it goes by a lot of different names. I found it under different names. I think rich low brass was a popular one.

[livewire]

Nancy posted a pic of a bracelet she made with phosphor bronze on JL. That was my first introduction to it.

Nancy has some information on her site. Maybe she can join this thread and share her knowledge.

Joyce

[wickwire]

Thanks for the plugs! Tela, this is different wire than brass which is a copper/zinc alloy and some of what is called bronze is actually brass. This is a true phosphor bronze which is a copper/tin alloy. It cost me more to get it annealed but it really is nice to work with. I actually have invested in a half round draw plate and have planned to draw my own because the minimum quantities that I have to order make it cost prohibitive for me to do that right now. If it works, I could package it in 5' or 10' packages because it's not something that people usually use a ton of. It's just waiting on me to find a place to permanently secure my vise. You know, it's been on the to-do list, so thanks for lighting a fire under my butt. ;D I haven't had time to make a lot of pieces in it but I can tell you that it sold well for me at shows this summer, and I got some good prices for it too, as long as it was oxidized. Like copper, people far prefer the patina in my experience. This wire patinas very nicely in LOS where brass doesn't. I did a blog post that talked about that. wickwirejewelry.blogspot.com/2011/04/bronze-bracelets-and-patinas.html I've also featured a couple of people who are doing some beautiful work with it. Any other questions, holler at me.

[Tela]

Hey Nancy, thanks for a great answer. ;D It does get confusing. You have cleared that up for me. I look forward to seeing some half round wire. It's true I wouldn't use a ton, but I usually need it for one thing or another. Can't wait to try it. It's beautiful wire.

So, just for the record, does this wire go by other names- like Nugold or Merlin's gold. I'm just curious, when I'm ready to get it, I'll be buying from you. One must support fellow artists.

[wickwire]

Nugold and Merlin's Gold are also brass alloys. I will try and get to the 1/2 round this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed.

Forgot to add, if any of you have used it feel free to send me pics along with a link to your shop and I will post it on my blog.

[Tela]

Thanks again, Nancy- will you post when the 1/2 r is ready? Looking forward to using it.

[christine]

Thanks for the explanation, Nancy. I thought it was similar to brass which I found very brittle. I will be checking out your site and would also like some of the 1/2 round. Looking forward to it!

[Tela]

I pulled out a marra mamba (or what ever you call it) to work on and realized this would be the wire for it, so I'm going to wait for the wire.

[glenda]

Marra Mamba? Is that a stone? Sounds kind of like a dance step/snake!!! ;D

Nancy I couldn't get the link you posted to open?!!

I think Im being a bit thick - Am I right in saying this wire isn't the same as Nugold?

I would like some now too, Ill be heading your way!!

[wickwire]

Hmmm, just tried the link and it opened fine. If you go to my blog, the post is from April 2011. Right, it's not the same as Nugold. Nugold is brass.

[wirewrangler]

I'm in!
WW

[Tela]

glenda Marra mamba, or, any of the various ways to spell it, is a type of tiger eye found in one place in Austailia. It's rare, expensive and oh so flashy. Except for the one I recently got- it'll do, but not really all that great.

[wickwire]

This is turning out to be harder than I thought! I clamped my vise to the heaviest table in the house. After messing around filing the end of the wire down to fit in a hole, I have to pull so hard that the table moves unless I brace it with my leg. So right now I'm restricted to drawing wires no longer than the length of my leg.

[Tela]

LOL! Bless you for doing this! Sounds like a real pain. On the plus side- I don't think I'll be wrapping anything that needs 1/2 round longer than your leg!

[caeterle]

I am longing for some of that bronze, unfortunately it doesn't come in a gauge I could use for my work. I love to see others work with it, though.

[kay]

I love the patina that this metal gets. I much prefer it to the color of oxidized copper. And when it is kept unoxidized and polished up, it is such a lovely shade...sort of between copper and rose gold in color.

[maryalece]

Marra Mamba is WOW!!! My daughter got interested in it, and then I did, and then I bought a few slabs for cabbing that are STUNNING!! I even won a few ebay auctions, because, well, I just couldn't stop myself. Of course, I don't cab, nor do I have the equipment, but when I do get around to it, WOW!!! Lol- sometimes I get a bit excited and just get foolish and buy something that I fall in love with, because, you know, SOMEDAY, I will be doing a new hobby and really NEED this and on and on... Anyway, I am off to check out the phosphor bronze and Nancy's Artfire store!

[livewire]

Kay, do you use LOS to oxidize your phosphor bronze? Nancy said in her blog that she liked a Jax patina, but, I was told there would be a hazardous material surcharge, making it very expensive for just a small bottle.

Joyce