Rolling and wire drawing: sheet and wire

Almost all the metal a jeweler uses comes from ingots that are rolled into sheet and drawn into wire.

Rolling #

The metal is passed through the rollers of a rolling mill, reducing the thickness a little at a time and annealing between passes. Grooved rollers make square, round and half-round wire.

Wire drawing #

The wire is stretched by pulling it through the decreasing holes of a draw plate, with beeswax as lubricant. Anneal when the wire stiffens.

Gauges #

Thickness is measured in millimeters or in gauges (AWG or B&S): the higher the gauge number, the finer the wire. 20 AWG is about 0.8 mm.

Tips #

Keep the rollers and draw plate clean, center the metal so it does not curve, and always roll in the same direction.

Step by step #

1. Anneal. Soften the metal before passing it through the rollers.
2. Adjust. Close the rollers a little more with each pass.
3. Feed. Insert the metal straight and with a continuous motion.
4. Turn 90°. Alternate direction to roll evenly.
5. Anneal. When it stiffens, soften it again.
6. Measure. Check the thickness with the caliper.

Tools and materials #

• Rolling mill
• Draw plate and draw tongs
• Caliper (see caliper)
• Beeswax

Common mistakes #

• Reducing too much in one pass: it cracks or curls.
• Feeding the metal crooked: it comes out wedge-shaped.
• Forgetting to anneal: the metal hardens and breaks.
• Leaving dirt on the rollers: it marks the sheet.

See also #

• Rolling mills: how to flatten metal
• Annealing: how to soften metal
• Draw plate
• Metal ingots and casting grain