ART OA0114 BallingUpWire

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Balling Up Wire: A Comparison
ce.
Balling up wire is a quick and useful technique you can use it to make headpins, wire accents, and ear wires,
and to add a smooth, finished look to your wirework projects. While the technique (see Balling the End of Wire
at www.artjewelry.com/reference) is roughly the same for most metals, here are some small ways to tweak the
process to ensure that your wire balls up smoothly every time.
When in doubt, use flux. Some metals, like fine silver, dont require flux when balling or soldering. However, flux may be useful
even if not required. A barrier flux (like Prips) keeps oxygen from reaching the surface of the metal (which reduces oxidation) and
may help reduce pitting. None of the samples below were fluxed or pickled, and show the oxidation an pitting that can occur.
Use a reducing flame. Most thin-gauge wire doesnt need much heat to ball up. Use a softer, reducing flame to prevent some
oxidation and to avoid heating the wire too quickly.
Keep your wire straight. Straighten the end of your wire before balling it up, and make sure the wire is completely vertical in
your cross-locking tweezers. This will ensure that your ball is rounder and centered on the wire.
Metal follows heat. Hold the tip of the inner blue cone of your flame directly above your wire end. As the end starts to ball up,
move the flame to keep it just above the ball until your ball is the desired size.
Check your wire gauge. Most precious metals and some base metals (like copper and brass) 18-gauge (1.0 mm) or smaller will ball
up easily with a hand-held butane torch. For gauges larger than 18, consider using an oxygen/gas torch to get the best result.
TYPE OF METAL
RESULTS
FLUX/PICKLE
TORCH NEEDED
OBSERVATIONS
Fine silver
Smooth, round ball
No flux or
pickling needed
Hand-held
butane torch
Very easy to ball up; requires

minimal preparation and clean-up
Argentium
sterling silver
Smooth, slightly
oblong ball
Flux optional, may

require pickling
Hand-held
butane torch
Easy to ball up; any discoloration

can be easily removed with pickle
Sterling silver
Moderately pitted
oblong ball
Flux and pickling

recommended
Hand-held
butane torch
Heavy oxidation and some pitting;

flux reduces oxidation and pitting
Platinum
sterling silver
Slightly pitted
oblong ball
Flux and pickling

recommended
Hand-held
butane torch
Some discoloration and minimal

pitting; use flux and pickle
Silver plated
Very pitted
uneven ball
Flux and pickling

recommended
Hand-held
butane torch
Silver plating burns off and

the surface pits badly
Not recommended
Copper
Slightly pitted
oblong ball
Flux and pickling

recommended
Hand-held
butane torch
Heavy oxidation and some pitting
Brass
Moderately pitted
oblong ball
Flux and pickling

recommended
Hand-held
butane torch
Light oxidation and some pitting
Steel
Smooth, slightly
oblong ball
No flux or
pickling needed
Oxygen/gas
(propane, acetylene, etc.) torch
Needs more intense heat; some

sparking may occur
Do not pickle!
Aluminum
Very uneven
pitted surface;
no ball forms
No flux or
pickling needed
Oxygen/gas
(propane, acetylene, etc.) torch
Heavy sparking and spitting

molten metal
DO NOT ATTEMPT
2013 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced

in any form without permission from the publisher.
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w.a You fou

Balling Up Wire: A Comparison

Smooth, round ball

Very easy to ball up; requires

Flux optional, may

Easy to ball up; any discoloration

Flux and pickling

Heavy oxidation and some pitting;

Flux and pickling

Some discoloration and minimal

Flux and pickling

Silver plating burns off and

Flux and pickling

Heavy oxidation and some pitting

Flux and pickling

Light oxidation and some pitting

Needs more intense heat; some

Heavy sparking and spitting

2013 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced

Art Jewelry covers:

Monday Friday, 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Central Time.

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