Wire begins as molten metal that is CCS Wire Manufacturers poured into an ingot mould and allowed to cool and solidify. In small-scale production a goldsmith repeatedly passes the ingot through grooved rollers of a rolling mill, forming square wire. With each pass the wire becomes smaller and longer. This process, called extrusion, is possible because of the metal’s ductility.

Once the ingot has been milled into wire of a manageable size, the goldsmith reduces it further using a drawplate. In the case of square wire the drawplate also makes the wire perfectly square, because the grooves in the rolling mill will have slightly faceted the wires corners.

Standard drawplates for handmade jewellery are steel and have a series of holes in graduating sizes. The holes have different profiles which can transform a wire’s shape while making it smaller and longer. For example, you can pull square wire through a round hole to make round wire.

To draw large diameter wire, a goldsmith uses a draw bench. The draw bench is a channel of steel or aluminium with a notch for a drawplate at one end and a boat winch at the other end. The boat winch provides leverage to make the process easier. Turning the winch handle turns a belt or chain attached to draw tongues which slide along the channel, pulling the wire through the drawplate. A typical draw bench makes only short lengths of wire, usually about 30-40 inches.

Years ago, a friend of mine taught me some simple beading techniques. You can make all sorts of shapes using beading wire and beads. The simplest is a hoop.

All you do is to thread the beads with beading wire and close the circle by threading the end of the wire back into the first bead. Now that technique can be used to make pretty gemstone hoop earrings.

First you need earring findings or castings, beading wire and gemstone beads. The full article Make Hoop Earrings explains the details as well as lists down where you can get these things at reasonable prices.

Once you have your supplies then arrange the beads in 2 identical lines, with the largest bead in the center and the smallest at the ends. That way, the earrings will fall properly.

Now make the first earring. Thread the first set of bead with beading wire. Then back again through the first bead.

Twist the 2 ends of the wire together to and loop this twisted wire through the hoop in the earring casting, hook or finding. If there isn't a loop, then loop the wire around the lowest prong of the casting before setting the stone into the casting and closing up the prongs. Close that bottom prong a little loosely to allow the hoop to move fluidly.

Twist the wire back over the top bead to fasten it and cut off the excess wire. That's one earring.