Working With Wire
Wire is a thrilling and essential component in assemblage and jewelry making. Using Keith Lo Bue's unorthodox approach to materials, you'll learn how to create your own wirework that can join, embellish and mount an unlimited array of elements.

Once you learn how useful wire can be, you'll leave the glue in the drawer!

Note: This is the required list for the 1-day Working With Wire class. For those who want to be ultra-prepared, you may choose to use the supply-list for the 2-day class (here), which has more tools but is a complete kit for wire-working in your own studio.

REQUIRED TOOLS/MATERIALS:

The tools below are things you will be certainly using in the workshop, and to avoid having to wait for a communal tool to become available, you should plan on getting them for the class:

• roll of 're-bar tie wire': Found for around $5 in hardware stores in the construction materials section, near the cinder block and chain-link fencing. IMPORTANT: make sure it is steel or iron wire, NOT galvanized!...it should be dark grey-black) If met with blank stares, tell them it's for tying re-bar rod together. NOTE: You won't need to haul the whole roll, as it's quite heavy - bring 1/4 of it with you and you'll have plenty!
• small bench vise (about a 3" jaw is fine, or even smaller if you find one...most hardware stores have a few sizes)
• a regular hammer (of the kind everyone has sitting around in the tool drawer)
• a regular pair of utility pliers
• jewelry pliers: a round-nose, flat-nose, side cutter (if you don't have any jewelry pliers, here's an inexpensive well-made set of four:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=3&subsub=63&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871>
and click on the link that says 'Valueline Pliers, set of 4')
• a small jewelry plier with a serrated edge on the inside (gripping edge)
• small file (any fine-tooth file will do)
• small hand drill (Fiskars makes a wonderful and very inexpensive one: <http://www.outlettools.com/cgi-bin/cart/list.cgi?!=l&S=Hand%20Tools~Fiskars%20Hand%20Tools&F=category.name~manufacturer.name&L=AND>)
• drill bits (any standard hardware-store set)
• extra 1/16" drill bit
• pair of flush-cutting pliers (available in Radio Shack or Home Depot in the 'radio electronics' area...made for snipping wires on circuit boards)
• fine steel wool (find it in a paint-supply section of a hardware store)
• an assortment of found objects that you can practice joining or embellishing with wire...see the Precious Little supply list for possible things to bring in this vein.

HELPFUL TOOLS (NOT REQUIRED):

• jeweller's saw (get one ideally with a 5" to 8" 'throat'...Gesswein has a 4.75" saw frame that will do it:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=9&subsub=12&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871> and click on 187-1200 Flat Saw Frame 4 3/4")
• saw blades (get two sizes:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=9&subsub=3&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871>,
1 dz. of the 1 size (#185-0100) and 1 dz. of 2/0 size (#185-0020)
• spring-loaded center punch (most hardware stores have 'em)
• mini drill bits (there is a 13-bit set from Gesswein here:
<http://www.gesswein.com/catalog/catalog.cfm?cat=2&sub=13&subsub=4&catalog=1&CFID=119556&CFTOKEN=8296871> and scroll down to #155-2038 Blue Ribbon HS Twist Drills, Set of 13 and Metal Index Case)
• foam ear plugs, if you're sensitive to hammering (we'll keep the noise down as much as possible, but there will be some, so just to be safe....

 

Please email me with any questions you might have that this page didn't address.

See you there! Keith