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Twistin' the Night Away
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Some of my designs incorporate forged elements including hammering, bending, twisting, or other shaping techniques. Twisting is simple in principle: Grab each end and turn in opposite directions. Getting a symmetrical, even twist is not always the outcome.

For one line of products, two strands of wire (which are really an elongated very large welded jump ring) are twisted into a perfect double helix. A few turned out that way but others just weren't cooperating.

Making large jump rings is not always done the normal way using a mandrel. Sometimes a wire section is cut from a roll and the ends aligned for welding. The ends have to touch intimately under pressure/tension.

When the fusing begins, the tension either holds the wire ends together for a perfect fuse or shifts them sideways. Shifting is a fail; the troubled section would have to be excised and the fresh, clean ends refused.

Another situation occurs with a previously welded ring that needs a touch-up fuse. If the ring isn't annealed first then it would cause stress at the molten joint and pop it out of alignment.

It turns out the problem was too much tension...in fine silver. Winding or manipulating by hand introduces localized hardened spots that can react sporadically when heated. It's not alive but it moves about.

Anyway, a section of wire is cut with ultra-flush pliers on both joining ends. Since the wire needs to be annealed beforehand it acts like wet spaghetti when lining up the ends. It is welded and readied for twisting.

 
It turns out the problem was too much tension...in fine silver.
 
This is where issue number whatever can rear its head. The wire hardens from the elongation process and it might not twist properly. Any bends or riffraff in the wire should be corrected now. Anneal it once again.

With twisting well under way, it is important to apply the same pulling force during the entire process or the wraps will be uneven. Allowing an "organically" twisted element in the final product is part of the creation process provided it isn't a copout.

The weld is particularly stressed, the ultimate test without equal. As much as I'd like to say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, it can look fine yet fail at any time. Some welds do and I marvel at how spectacular they are. What's redoing one more link when there are endless links to come.


Posted by M: December 10, 2023


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