Screw plate and Filigree

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi:I have been working with filigree for several years Although
i have written a book on the subject i am still trying to learn
more and i would be glad to share with others what i have
learned.I would particularly like imfo relating to the use of the
screw plate for making filigree wire…
Leon

2

Are you sure that you don"t mean drawplate for drawing down
wire? contact me off line if I can help Leon Kusher
Lkusher@AOL.COM

3 
Are you sure that you don"t mean drawplate for drawing down
wire?

G’day; The screw plate is very much like a wire drawing plate
in that it is a steel plate with many holes drilled in it, but
much thinner than a drawplate. The main difference is however,
that the holes have screw threads cut into them. The plate is
used to put a screw thread on small wires. A threading tap is
used to make the nuts into which the threads fit. I personally
prefer to use very small engineer’s threading dies. Cheers,

        /\      John Burgess
       / /
      / /      Johnb@ts.co.nz    
     / /__|\
    (_______) Modern Corporate Song:- 
In this life one thing counts; 
in the bank large amounts. 
Money you see, don't grow on trees,
 You gotta pick a pocket or two. Yoy!
You gotta pick a pocket or two boys; 
you gotta pick a pocket or two.

Chorus: Money doesn’t grow on trees; you gotta pick a pocket or
two.
(Fagin)

4

You can use a screw plate to create a threaded wire for filigree
work. There generally is a hole at one end of the screw-plate.
Attach a large nut with some binding wire to this hole in the
plate so that the nut is about 2-3 inches away from that end of
the plate. This will act as a fly wheel when you start the plate
in motion. Place the desired gauge of wire into the correct
threaded hole of the plate, and turn the plate by hand until
enough of the wire extends through the plate so that you can
grasp this end of the wire with one hand. Now grasp the wire as
it goes into the plate with the fingers of your other hand, and
using a circular motion start the plate rotating away from you.

You will get the plate cutting a thread and working its way up
the unthreaded wire. You will only get a little done at a time,
but after awhile you will develop a rhythm and be able to get
some length of threaded wire. It is also a good idea to
lubricate the wire to facilitate the thread cutting.

This is one of those things that is more easily shown than
discribed, but I do hope it will make sense when you try it.
Good luck Joe Dule