WE NOW OFFER THESE RESOURCES (click on the link):

SOLDERING INTRODUCTION

 HOW TO SOLDER E-Booklet  ($6)

METAL CRAFT HOW-TO ARTICLES (free)

Virtual Museum of Watercolor Supplies

 

Welcome to

The Whimsie Studio tm

Crafting in Metal

NOW FEATURING:

Virtual Museum of Watercolor Supplies

 

Metal Craft How-To Articles

SORRY WE HAVE RETIRED AND NO LONGER SELL ART METALS

 

 
FINE CRAFT METAL FOR 29 YEARS
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

EMAIL US: 

Info@whimsie.com

 
 
 
  Updated , Mar 5, 2023
 

The best CRAFT ADVICE is to get HANDS-ON TRIAL & ERROR EXPERIENCE.

Experimenting & working with pieces of metal will build your knowledge and skill as you handle the material.

We have created these articles of introductory advice based on our experience. YouTube and Search Engines are also excellent resources.

 
BASIC CRAFT METAL Information & Gauge thickness Chart
HOW TO SOLDER EASILY- Intro and BOOKLET to download ($6)
 
CLEANING METAL Copper , Brass, Bronze, Nickel & Aluminum
 
PATINA- age metal
 
About SHAPED WIRES - Square, Half Round, etc.
 
EMBOSSING & TOOLING: Copper, Aluminum & Brass Foil
 
SOFTENING metal
 
SHAPING - Straightening, Flattening, Bending & Forming Metal
                As a working craft studio for over 29 years, we know how a reliable supply of quality materials
    can make a big difference.  This is why we dedicated ourselves to the Whimsie.com Studio Supply website from 1999 until our retirement in 2021.
    We did our best to keep all of these materials well stocked and ready to ship. We appreciate each and every one of our customers who ordered those materials.
      Thank you for visiting our site

Other Reading:

 

Metal Working - A book of Tools, Materials and Processes for the Handyman by Paul N. Hasluck, (Reprinted from 1907 Original), 1994 Lindsay Publications, Inc.

Living Materials - A Sculptor's Handbook by Oliver Andrews, University of California Press, 1988

The Art and Craft of Making Jewelry by Joanna Gollberg, Lark Books, 2006

Making Metal Jewelry - Projects~Techniques~Inspiration by Joanna Gollberg, Lark Books, 2003

Practical Blacksmithing and Metalworking by Percy W. Balnford, Tab Books, 1988

The Art of Coppersmithing by John Fuller Sr, (Reprinted from 1893 original) Astragal Press, 1993

 

Make your own home-made ornaments and gifts!

 

ORNAMENT MAKING & WIRE WRAPPING Candle holders, Utensils etc.

 

(c)1985-2014 The Whimsie Studio, All original designs and photographs shown herein are and copyright protected. 

Whimsy, Whimsie n. fanciful idea: whim.
Gauge Thickness chart & Information
 
 
Gauge Is thickness. The higher the gauge number the thinner the metal.
 
The chart below shows approximate gauge thickness for metal to give a relative idea of different gauges. It is in American Standard Gauge of Average wire gauge thickness.
 
This is a comparative chart only size photos will appear different sizes on various devices -
 
 Gauge -Thickness  Dimension inches thick  Dimension millimeters thick
  NOTES
 2

 

.258 inch or
slightly over 1/4 inch thick
  6.54 mm
  VERY HEAVY THICK WIRE .For large sculptures & armatures- cuts best with a bolt cutter or saw.
 4
 
.204 inch
 5.189 mm
 THICK WIRE .For large sculptures & armatures- cuts best with a bolt cutter or saw.
 6

 

 .162 inch
 4.1mm
 THICK WIRE .For large sculptures & armatures- cuts best with a bolt cutter or saw.
 8
  .128 a little over 1/8 inch
3.26 mm
 
 9
   .114 inch
   2.91 mm
 
  10

 

.102 inch
  2.6 mm
 
  12
 
.081 inch 50
 2 mm thick
 About as thick as a standard wire coat hanger
 14
 
 .064 inch
a bit thicker than 1/16 inch
1.6 mm
 This and thicker is Considered PLATE METAL in sheet metal. as in "copper plate"
  16
 .051 inch
 1.30 mm
 
  18
 .04 inch
 1 mm
 A bit thicker than a standard paper clip in wire. Heavy PLATE METAL in sheet metal. as in "copper plate"
  20
.032 inch
.80mm
About the thickness of a standard paper clip.
  22
 . 025
 .65mm
 
  23
Photo shows Approximate thickness: 23 gauge
  .023 or 23 Mil
  .576 mm

 

Standard heavy weight Sheet metal for larger craft work, roofing and range hoods etc. In copper sheet it is 1 pound per square foot approximately.

For sheet metal it cuts with a tin snips or saw

  24
  .020 or 20 Mil
 .5 mm -half a millimeter

Heavy weight Sheet metal.

For sheet metal it cuts with a tin snips or saw

A medium fine wire for craft.

  26
  .016
 .40 mm
 
  30
 .010 also known as 10 mil
as it is 10/1000
inch thick
  .25 mm 1/4 mm
 Medium weight sheet - cuts with a scissors. twice as thick as 36 gauge below, But a very thin wire- not very strong
  36
 .005 also known as 5 mil
as it is 5/1000 inch thick
  .125 mm 1/8 mm

 Heavy FOIL: Standard Embossing & tooling & foil. Cuts with a scissors.

7 times thicker than household aluminum foil.

  38
 .004
  .101 mm

  Medium weight foil slightly lighter than above

Extremely thin wire

   45-50
 .0014
.0007
    thin foil- Household"tin" Aluminum foil- called
very thin foil - standard aluminum kitchen foil "tin foil"
 
The Gauge thickness lines may not appear correctly on some computer screens due to different screen resolutions and page size settings.
 
Adjust your screen or estimate If this does not appear as one inch.
 
 
Or see the inch dimensions in the chart above on this page and compare with a ruler.
 
 
 
   
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