Online Wire Wrap Artist Supply Guide

Wire wrap enthusiasts sometimes have difficulty finding suppliers for square and half-round wire using local means. The internet is a great place for finding wire and jeweler's supplies. Most web sites include other jewelry making options, and most ship the same day.

Following is a list of suppliers who cater to the wire wrap artist:

Brandywine Jewelry Supply (http://www.brandywinejewelrysupply.com/). Brandywine is the go-to place for square and half-round copper wire, the chosen medium for beginner wire wrappers. Copper wire is considerably less expensive than precious metal wire and makes an excellent practice medium. Brandywine also carries brass square and half-round wire (harder in temper to work with), and sterling silver round, half-round and square wire. Silver wire is sold in 5' or one ounce increments. Brandywine offers $4 off shipping on any order more than $100, and there's a fast turnaround. Each shipment comes with a peppermint. When shopping Brandywine for wire, don't forget to check out the clearance section of the web site for super deals on cabochons, gemstones and beads.

Rio Grande (http://www.riogrande.com/default.aspx). Rio Grande does offer some base metal (copper and brass) square and half-round wire. However, this is the place to go for sterling silver square and half-round wire. It comes in a variety of patterns, square, round and half-round, in soft, half-hard and hard. In addition to 925 silver, they stock fine silver and Argentium. They also carry gold and gold-filled wire (12, 14, 18, 22 and 24K), including pink (rose) and white gold. Shoppers must register in advance to see pricing information. There is a minimum amount needed to purchase (per troy ounce) when it comes to wire sales, but this is a great place to shop if you are looking for bulk sales. What I like most about Rio Grande is that they post the current platinum, gold and silver prices right on the home page. They also offer a full range of jeweler's supplies, including findings, stones, tools and more.

Otto Frei (http://www.ottofrei.com/store/home.php). In order to shop here, you must have a tax ID and pre-register. Otto Frei is the big daddy of jewelry supply stores, selling wholesale items like rolling mills, kilns, gem settings and sheet metal, but they also sell sterling silver, Argentium and gold-filled wire. Sterling silver comes in square, half-round, patterned and round. Wire is sold by the foot and in millimeter increments. Otto Frei also provides brass, nickel and steel wire, sold in 12" lengths. Customer service representatives monitor the site and will ask you if you need assistance, which is both nice and rather intrusive.

Fire Mountain Gems (http://www.firemountaingems.com/). Fire Mountain Gems is the granddaddy of all jewelry supply. The bulk of their items are beads of every kind; pearl, gemstone, semi-precious stone, glass, acrylic, wood and bone. Faceted gems and cabochons are available. However, Fire Mountain Gems also carries a wide range of wire wrapping supplies, including sterling silver, gold filled and copper wire and all the tools a wire wrap artist could wish for. Choices in wire include round, half-round, square and twisted silver and gold-filled. Precious metal wire is sold in 5' or 25' spools and comes in soft, half-hard or hard. The copper wire, unfortunately, only comes in round. Fire Mountain Gems offers a volume discount based on the number of items purchased. Fire Mountain Gems is quick to ship and offers a 100% guarantee.

Jewelry Supply (http://www.jewelrysupply.com/). This site sells sterling silver, gold filled and 14K gold wire, along with copper, nickel and brass. Sterling silver wire can be found in round, half-round and square; all others are round only. Precious metal wire is sold by the foot (or with gold, by the inch) so it's very difficult to gauge the ounce weight. Jewelry Supply's easy-to-navigate web site also features beads, tools, findings and packaging options.

T. B. Hagstoz & Sons (http://www.hagstoz.com/). The web site is nothing to look at, but Hagstoz is a great place for finding larger gauge square copper wire. All ordering is done over the phone. I've heard mixed results as to shipping times, but personally have not had any problems.