When looking for cloisonne wire sizes I like to use Hauser Miller. They are also whom I like to order my Cloisonne bezel setting wire, for setting the cloisonne jewel. Here is a link to their site, http://www.hauserandmiller.com/
Although I prefer to set my cloisonne jewelry with 2.5 mm high 22k gold bezel with a thickness of 26 ga. and this is not on their chart, but they will supply it for you. When I am working in silver I will use the same sizes of wire for my settings just in Fine Silver.
Lower on the page is their stock of cloisonné wire sizes, this is 24k gold wire. The two marked with the * are stock, readily available. The .005 x.040 is the taller cloisonné wire and the .008. x .032 is the shorter in height cloisonne wire sizes. I like to keep on hand 26ga 24k gold round wire as some times I need to draw it down, then roll it out myself to create a very thin and short cloison wire as here on the back of these earrings.
The total thickness of the cloisonné earrings is 1.5 mm. with a 24 ga fine silver disc in the center where is not much room for my cloisonné wires, yet I have them on both sides of the fine silver disc. The wires might be 1/8 of a mm here.
On the front of the same earrings, you can see the wires are thicker and a bit higher. It is nice to be able to customize these wires to your need.
When Andre 3000 from OutKast order the Mandrill Cloisonne Pendant, he wanted thicker cloisonne wire sizes in the jewel. Here I cut the wires from fine silver sheet to achieve the look he was after.
The Mandrill for Andre
3000
Should i put enamel on the back of all pieces? What high do you recomend for the Basel?
Hi Neda, yes if cloisonné. The thickness of counter enamel is the same thickness of the front enamel. Sometimes it is hard to tell if you have enough on the back. When in question you can put a scrap piece of cloisonné wire on the back to be sure it is same as front. Also the front cracks if there is not enough counter enamel.
If you mean bezel on your setting the enamel jewel, my average height is 2.5 mm. Just depends how deep you like your enamels. If you mean the height of cloison wire that also depends on how deep you want the enamels. An average height is 0.40
Hope this helps, Patsy
Is 18 gauge x 30 gauge wire a good measurement for cloisonne?
Hi Lorena, I usually use 18 x 28 ga.
So the first number is the thickness and the second is the height.
yes, Janet.
Thanks for the visit!
Hello, I have 2 questions:
Re cloisonne wire I don’t understand what these sizes represent: .005 x.040.
Is this per inch? Is one the thickness and the other the height?
Do you use liquid enamel and do you have any information on it?
Thank you
MR
IMAGE LINK
Hi MB,
Thanks for the visit. Yes it is the thickness and the height. It also comes in a thicker and shorter size. .008 x 0.32.
Do you mean faux enamel. No I do not. I use vitreous enamels.
Have a great day! Patsy