Rosary Making: Choosing the Right Wire

Chain rosaries can be made out of continuous wire or eye pins. Using wire to construct rosary beads is the most traditional method. If you would like to use continuous wire and make your own rosary links there are some key factors to consider when selecting the wire. This guide on selecting wire for rosary making will highlight different aspects in relation to wire and how this will affect the end result of your rosary. 

Wire Gauge

Wire gauge is the metric used to represent the diameter, or thickness, or wire. The UK and US have differing systems to measure wire gauges - Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) and American Wire Gauge (AWG) The systems are not interchangeable, and the same number means different wire thicknesses. In both systems, a higher number means a thinner wire. In each system, the gauge of the wire can also be translated into millimetres, making it easy to ensure you know the exact thickness of the wire no matter which measuring system is being used. 

The most common wire thicknesses used for rosary making are between 0.7mm and 0.8mm, however other sizes can be used. Smaller rosaries can be made with thinner wires, and larger rosaries with thicker wires. The choice of wire thickness depends on the construction style, bead choice, and desired aesthetic for the rosary.

Wire sold on the www.rosary-making.com website is sourced from around the world, including the USA. Therefore some of the products have AWG sizing on the labelling. The product description will always include the gauge size in mm so you can be sure which size of wire you are buying. 

AWG vs SWG

Type of Metal

Many different types of metal can be used to make rosary beads. All metals have different properties, which can give them each different advantages for rosary making, and each can have a different feel when working with them. 

• Solid Wire: Solid wires are one metal. Metals which are common for solid wire options are Sterling Silver, Copper, Brass, Aluminium and Stainless Steel. 
• Plated Wire: Plated wires have a base metal core, such as copper, which is coated in a thin second metal such as silver or gold through electroplating, making a more cost effective alternative if you want to use precious metals such as Sterling Silver of Gold. 
• Filled Wires: Filled wires are similar to plated wires, in that they usually have a base metal such as copper, however rather than electroplating a bonding method is used to create a coating around the base metal. 

Wire Temper (Hardness)

One key aspect to consider when choosing the type of metal wire to use is the temper. at the core of the rosary construction is the wire loops which link each bead together. Different metal types have varying tempers, which will make it easier of harder to work with the wire to create these loops. While softer wires are easier to bend, they also struggle to hold their bent shape, and will not product a long-lasting design. Wires are categories into 4 key temper rating:

• Hard
• Half Hard
• Soft
• Dead Soft

It is common to use Half Hard wires for the traditional chain rosary construction method. Half hard wire provides a good combination of ease of bending with pliers, but also the stiffness to maintain the bent structure to ensure a long lasting rosary. If you would like to make a wire wrapped rosary, Dead Soft wires are usually considered more suitable, and they are softer to work with and the construction method alleviates and danger of the wire being to soft to hold its shape. 

Chain

When connecting decades together, or connecting centre medals and crucifixes wire can also be used. An alternative is to use chain for these sections of the rosary construction. You can purchase both continuous soldered chain which you can cut to your desired size, or pre-cut chain segments in the Rosary Making shop. 

Selecting Beads

The wire chosen to rosary making will also need to consider the bead selection. If you have a particular bead chosen that you would like to use to make a rosary, it is important to consider both the weight of the beads, the bead size, and the hole size to select a suitable wire. Conversely, if you have a particular wire you like to work with when making rosary beads, you should consider the bead weight and hole side when selecting beads. 

To create a strong a robust rosary, the wire should fill the majority of the bead hole. This will provide stability and endurance for the rosary. If the wire is too thin for the bead hole the rosary will have too much movement around the beads not be durable and will come apart easily. The wire should secure the bead in place.

If you like a particular bead but the hole size is too small for the wire thickness you would like  to use, you can re-drill the bead holes to make them larger, rather than sacrificing the stability by choosing a thinner wire. There are a range of bead types available in our Bead category.

For heavier beads, it is ideal to use a lower gauge (thicker) and harder wire to ensure the wire can hold the bead. For lighter beads, higher gauges (thinner) and softer wires can be used. 

Final Thoughts

For those new to rosary making, choosing a wire can seem overwhelming when there are so many factors to consider. While all of the tips and information included above can be beneficial, the best way to learn about wire is simply to make rosaries. As you try different wire types, construction styles, and bead types, you will learn more through the tactile nature of rosary making than any guide would be able to teach you. If you are new to rosary making, there is nothing wrong with simply choosing a wire and bead style because you like it, and making a completed rosary. This is how my mother Tigga learned when she began rosary making, and the process of trial and error while learning to make rosaries helped her become an expert. As you try out different materials you may come across some of the factors mentioned above, and this guide may help you in these instances. Each rosary you make is a chance to refine your choices until you find the methods and materials that work best for you.

All of the wire sold at www.rosary-making.com is suitable for one method of rosary construction, ensuring that you can go too wrong with any choices in the beginning. The product range available at www.rosary-making.com is constantly expanding to offer customers new choices and products to try. The wire range is always being added to, so it is worth checking the 'New' products section to see what is available. If there are any products you would like to try that are not currently stocked then please get in touch as I am always happy to source new products. If you have any questions regarding selecting wire, or about any of the wire currently in the product range please contact me at enquiries@rosary-making.com.