resizing copper wire for jewellery making (using a draw plate)

Reducing the size of scrap copper wire for making jewelry is a simple technique. Useful for a variety of wire wrapping and copper wire jewellery projects.
I use a lot of copper wire for practising techniques and testing ideas. Instead of buying a lot of new wire in a variety of sizes, I save money by buying scrap copper wire and reduce it down into what I need.
If you've enjoyed my videos please leave me a comment and feedback below any of them, it's great to have some connection with viewers, or if you have any questions about my videos that I may be able to help with.
Also please consider subscribing to my channel to see my new videos and to give me a big fat smile … here's a link you can click …
/ @nickscreativestuff
thanks … Nick

[@16Sadhana13]

really clear, all the important informations are here. thanx a lot!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for that Sadhana, glad you found it useful … N

[@smokeydog67]

Love the video, it always fascinates me on what you can do with wire.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Thanks for that Wanda, I love using draw plates such a simple tool … N

[@galecannington76]

Great instructional video!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Nice to hear that Gale … Thanks … Nick

[@tammiehonican76]

Another wonderful tutorial! I would love to see your shop. I can only imagine the creative tools you have accumulated over the years! You can tell you have been creating jewelry for awhile because it's beautiful! Have a good day!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for that Tammie, i’ve been trying to leave my workshop out of my videos because it’s generally in such a chaotic mess, doesn’t look good on camera. filming would be a lot easier if it was more sorted maybe one day when I get round to it … cheers … Nick

[@garethmarks6016]

That is a super example of recycling. Thanks for sharing.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

appreciate your comment Gareth, never know what to call it … recycling, up-cycling, reclaiming, salvaging, re-purposing … I suppose it’s all the same really … Nice to do because it can save money sometimes … cheers … Nick

[@alicerosa6766]

I really love your videos because this is what I was looking for, how to do some jigs and be creative to make jewelry more easy, fast and reliable. Thank you so much for share your videos and keep bringing us a smile😁👍👍👍.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for that Alice, nice to hear I can bring a smile … cheers … Nick 👍😎👍

[@joesask857]

thanks man

[@Nickscreativestuff]

cheers Joe … N

[@allanthompson9695]

I love the re use and resourcefulness Nick. Absolutely brilliant. Such an important video on different levels. Cheers.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks Alan, it’s amazing what draw plates are capable of doing. I once pulled some silver wire down to 0.3mm diameter. I didn’t think it was possible until I tried. Lots of annealing needed to make it work … N

[@piepeeya4604]

I took an engine apart to get the cooper out. That was fun, just have problems removing the residue from masking tape.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

hi Pie thanks for the comment, I tend to burn off any contaminants … then clean back with acid … Hot vinegar with salt in works well … then it can be polished back with wire wool … cheers … Nick

[@mjremy2605]

So glad I found your channel by chance! This is amazing. DIY your own wire, wow! I'm endlessly fascinated by the world of metal and jewelry. It is a universe of cool tips, tricks, inventiveness, and crazy creativity. I love it and live for it. Nothing makes me happier than to putter around making things and learning how to make new things. So much fun. Thanks for a great demo! Subscribed. Of course! Two things: 1. Music is something I universally abhor on demo or DIY videos. Other videos like wildlife or tours are also best left without music. Natural sounds are very soothing. Hearing the rustle and scrape of wire is very satisfying. It is the sight and sound I came to hear. Music is always thrust upon a viewer, they did not select it. Music is a personal choice, and viewer has no control over what they are forced to hear, when they came to see something completely different. So while the videographer may be thinking they will liven up the boring video with music, it is entirely the wrong choice. The viewer for most part, wants to HEAR what is going on as well, for the full experience of learning. Fabrication sounds are important. Just as a doctor wants to hear the patient as well as feel them up, so do we. It is a visual, auditory, and tactile experience. We cannot feel the wire or plate but we can see what is happening and hear what is going on. You took away a second sense - that of hearing, and substituted meaningless sound of 'music' instead. Do you see what I mean? This is why a demo or DIY video should never have music. For wildlife, you want to hear them. For a tour, you want to hear the speaker and process what they are saying, not have music jamming up your brain CPU processor. So many people don't get that. Try to watch a video with music, and try to learn from it. You will automatically turn off the sound then be irritated you have to watch in a vacuum of no sound at all. Learning comes from multiple input channels. Plus it adds a Zen dimension to only hear the sounds no voice, no music. So beautiful and soothing. 2. I would have loved to have seen the back end of those plates where the action was happening to see if the metal was being scraped off, how much scraping off, or whether it was being reshaped and pulled long by the draw plate with minimal shaving off. Always a good idea to show both sides for full understanding. Thank you for an excellent demo! Those are nice draw plates, made in Italy!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Hi MJ, thanks for your in-depth insights and feedback on my videos a very educational read. As long as I can remember I’ve loved being a maker reminiscent of time spent as a kid with my dad in the shed, fiddling and making odds out of rubbish. How time flies when you’re having fun, I set this channel up just over one and half years ago with the intentions of trying to get across the pleasures of creativity. Over time we live learn and evolve, I’m now amazed I’m earning a small wage from KZbin doing what I love. It was never meant to be anything too serious, just a bit of fun. I now call myself a hobbyist for good reasons, I once had comments saying some of my procedures were not very professional and why was I showing it like that. Now that KZbin has started to pay me for my content I realise I have to up my game and take things a bit more serious especially with the potential of having a small income when I retire working from home. 18 months ago I started to learn how to make videos using my iPhone and iPad, they have served me well up until now however it’s inevitable that one day i’ll need to invest in more equipment like a microphone, lighting and a better camera. Bing an amateur it’s hard to get a quality sound recordings, half the time I’m filming on the dining table with background noises from the TV, household appliances, and it’s awkward to tell my partner to be quiet. I suppose I use music to help cover up what I think would be an awkward silence apart from the odd bit of workshop noise that i’m able to balance down into an enjoyable sound. Being camera shy voice overs don’t work for me so I feel I have to add descriptive text where necessary. It must be offputting if you can’t read them so I try to keep it to a minimum. I’ve had a fair few comments about people not liking music on a video, so I’ve now started stating at the beginning of my videos “this being a voiceless video if you don’t like the music you can turn the sound off”. After reading your perceptions as a viewer I suppose this is the lazy option and a bit of a copout for me to use instead I should be putting the effort into learning the art of capturing nice workshop sounds to go with the visuals. Thanks for the encouragement, I’ll try and drop the music for the next one and show the drawer plates don’t remove any material just squash it down … all the best to you … Nick

[@denisereynolds64]

i like how you answer questions i havent thought of yet. thanks for sharing

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for your comment Deneise, “ good questions outrank easy answers“ Paul Samuelson … N

[@marianomorales7154]

OMG nice turorial quite clear thanks so much!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks Mariano, forgot to mention in this video it works exactly the same for silver and gold … Nick

[@mawi1172]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Nickscreativestuff]

😎👍🥰

[@caneladelcaribe819]

😊

[@Nickscreativestuff]

👍😎👍 … N

[@cherlona8922]

Wow I had no clue! Thank you for sharing!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks Cher, I was amazed how well this works with a bit of practice … cheers … Nick

[@stephencoster9532]

Hiya Nick, Another great video demonstrating how to do it properly, nice one. Do you follow 'Fireball Tools'? An American engineer who loves proving things with engineering. Do files cut on the backstroke? According to his experiments even better than when pushing them. He has some great stuff; he's built some amazing tools on video. Well worth watching. Steve.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

hi steve, funny that … fireball Tools is my all time number one favourite channel. I did start to worry recently thinking he might be going a bit mainstream with his content making propellers for bicycles, large wheels for rollerskates and snow toboggans. thankfully he’s now back to his usual commercial heavy engineering unique videos … N

[@tishsmiddy71]

Thank you 😊 That was very informative ❤️🤟🏻💋

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks Tish, glad to hear my videos are somewhat informative, I do wonder sometimes with the lack of talk over descriptions … cheers … Nick

[@user-dy5ho4sj2w]

Dude, you are so awesome. I’ve been watching these types of videos and was wondering what that metal thing was called that you all pull the wire through. This video was extremely well done and so helpful. Thank you for making this content. Your art is beautiful and you are an awesome teacher.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for your lovely comment, had to make this video after so much satisfaction playing with these drawer plates … simple but sweet …. it’s nice to be able to give a bit back after learning so much from KZbin … cheers … Nick

[@montystewart8467]

Look at your subscribers! You are getting famous! Can you make a vid of how to make those wire balls/cages? So cool. Cheers my friend! (I had no idea draw plates were tapered. I need to buy some.)

[@Nickscreativestuff]

hey early days Monty, can’t believe how quickly it’s all accelerated, even have my first KZbin paycheck due, hope the adverts aren’t too annoying. i’ve been meaning to do a follow on video from the peg board bending tool I made. The wire ball would be a good project to go with this. draw plates are very satisfying to use it’s very pleasing to make your own silver wire … all the best to you… Nick

[@Newriverartist]

Not into jewelry myself but I have a lot friends that make it. Well presented video! I am also an artist and I share my painting demos and studio tours here. So much variety on KZbin. Have a great day!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

hi Kendall thanks for that, love your fabulously colourful channel, that’s one heck of a collection you’ve produced. i’m also shy of cameras, can’t even cope with voice-overs however I am thoroughly entertained with the creative process of video making. KZbin is such a colossal community of artists sharing their passions for the world to see. Have fun … Nick

[@Newriverartist]

Welcome and thanks for checking out my work!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

❤️🖼👍

[@offyarocka]

😎😎😎

[@Nickscreativestuff]

👍😎👍 … N

[@mandicoleman7433]

That's so cool 😎 Thanks for sharing!

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks Mandi, i’m amazed how far copper can be stretch … Nick

[@doodlebertdesigns]

Just wondering, is it necessary to clean the wire in an acid bath after each annealing?

[@Nickscreativestuff]

hi Heidi, I tend not to clean with acid every time I anneal the wire, I clamp one in a vice and rub along it with wire wool or an abrasive pad to get the worst off … Nick

[@doodlebertdesigns]

@@Nickscreativestuff thank you

[@flaviomandelli7629]

Hi where did you get the plate ? Made in Italy ? Thankyou !

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Hi Flavio, these draw plates are very pleasing to use they come in a huge variety of different sizes, shapes and quality. The ones I use stamped made in Italy are a mid range, I bought mine from cooksongold.com a UK based company … all the best … Nick

[@flaviomandelli7629]

Thank you for replay !

[@robertgrinstead3546]

what acid do you need to clean up the copper wire?

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Hi Robert, I mostly use a product called pickling powder, it’s used by the jewellery trade to clean copper and silver. I buy mine from cooksongold.com although a lot of places will sell it. It’s a powder based chemical called Sodium hydrogensulphate or Sodium BiSulpate. Other chemicals can work such as hot vinegar mixed with salt or citric acid … Hope this helps … Nick

[@Destroy804]

Whats the smallest you can do with a Drawplate ?

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Hi Destroy, i’ve used this plate to draw down to 0.5mm I think it goes a bit further … i’ll have to check for you … Nick

[@Nickscreativestuff]

i’ve just pulled a bit of copper through the smallest hole and the wire comes out at 0.4mm diameter. some plates might go smaller. all the best … Nick

[@waliza001]

draw plates are expensive. Especially when it says- made in italy.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

Hi Waliza, draw plates come in a variety of price and quality. my “made in Italy” ones are a mid range price. my draw tongs are excellent being a cheap budget range … cheers … Nick

[@waliza001]

@@Nickscreativestuff I have a chinese made tungsten carbide one. Quality is good enough. I paid around 45 quid.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

mine were about £50 from Cooksongold. have been meaning to try the budget ones sometime to see what they’re like … N

[@Sheepdog1314]

There is no such thing as "scrap". It's all worth something. Minerals, gem stones, metals - all are non-renewable resources. The earth no longer makes this stuff.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

thanks for your comment sheepdog, here in the UK electricians and plumbers save up every last little bit of ‘“scrap” copper they produce and take it to a “scrap” yard who buy it for the going rate. Amazing to think it’s back in the store for purchase after this recycling process has gone full circle … Nick

[@Sheepdog1314]

@@Nickscreativestuff here in the US a lot gets wasted. Go into a half-finished house and see all the copper piping and tubing laying around, which often ends up in the trash because "it's not enough to recycle". Same with sheet metal or steel pipes. I watch goldsmiths and jewelers just saw and snip away at gold and silver without saving the filings or bits. Pawn shops literally break the stones to get them out of the settings. Breaks my heart, and it's pretty offensive to my old-fashioned apprentice training as a goldsmith years ago. People have too much money to waste and no love for the earth.

[@Nickscreativestuff]

I quite agree with that, in our modern existence we live in a throw it away society. I don’t believe we could ever change, I think it’s more likely the planet will soon change and throw away its human race one day. Time is a great healer and in theory the planet has plenty of that left. Over time species and civilisations come and go, let’s hope one day evolution may produce something that has more respect for what goes on in its back yard and that it can contribute to their existence longevity … Nick

[@moneybilla]

@@Sheepdog1314 yea that's very not so true lmfaoo otherwise every Scrap yard in the us would be our of buisness but hey what else you expect other then someone else spouting nonsense bs bout the us online😂😂