[Source] Sterling silver rods

Jewelry Discussion
1

I’m looking for a resource for sterling silver rods. 2 1/2mm and
3mm. Metaliferous is always out of them. Any suggestions?

2

Hi Arlene,

I'm looking for a resource for sterling silver rods. 2 1/2mm and
3mm. Metaliferous is always out of them.

If I were you, I’d go directly to a refiner. Most of them are also
fabricators of wire, sheet, casting grain & similar items.

Two good refiners are Hauser & Miller (hauserandmiller.com) in St.
Louis & Hoover & Strong (hooverandstrong.com) in Richmond.

Dave

3

To make a 3mm sterling silver wire rigid enough to be considered
rod, draw your wire as usual, then clamp one end of it in a vise, and
using a hand operated drill, twist the wire until one end snaps off.

The formally curved wire will become very straight and hard.

(Clean up the barber-pole stripes using 320 grit sandpaper followed
by 1500 grit paper. And discover if you turned down the rolling mill
jaws too fast.)

NM

4 
I'm looking for a resource for sterling silver rods. 2 1/2mm and
3mm. Metaliferous is always out of them.

Unless you have to have exactly 2.5 and 3 mm you can order by wire
gauges 10 ga (2.59 mm), 9 ga (2.91 mm), and 8 ga (3.26). It will come
as coiled stock so you will have to straighten it into rods.

Rick Copeland
rockymountainwonders.com

5

Unfortunately, Metalliferous is continually out of stock on silver
rods. Tempered silver rods are a primary element of my

silver and stone art jewelry. Until recently, Metalliferous was my
only source. Seattle Findings can special order square rods. They are
non-returnable. I find them the same as the ones from Metalliferous,
so that is not a problem.

At Seattle Findings I deal with Leah at 1-800-678-7759.

Jane Penman
janepenmanjewelrydesigns.com

6

Hi Jane,

I looked at your website and admire your work. I think you are
probably paying extra for sterling rods when you could buy coiled
stock and with a little work with a rawhide mallet and a flat piece
if steel quickly straighten out the pieces you need.

Rick Copeland
rockymountainwonders.com

7

Hi Jane,

I looked at your website and admire your work. I think you are
probably paying extra for sterling rods when you could buy coiled
stock and with a little work with a rawhide mallet and a flat
piece if steel quickly straighten out the pieces you need.

Have you tried using regular wire of the size that equals the rod
size you want?

You could uncoil the wire & depending on the rod length you need cut
it a little longer than the length you need or if the lengths are
realatively short, cut a length of wire that will produce several
rods. Clamp one end of the wire in a vise & put the other end in the
chuck of an electric drill. Draw the wire taut with the drill &
while holding it taut, run the drill. This will twist the wire,
straightening it & at the same time hardening it. There may be some
twist lines (like a barber pole) on the surface of the wire when
you’re finished. In my experience, these lines have always been in
the patina/surface dirt on the wire & come off when the wire is
pulled through a polishing cloth.

Dave