looking for gold wire

[SVanderkolff]

I would like to upscale a couple of knives and am looking for an on line supplier for some 1/16 round gold wire for pin stock. Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Steve

[Shakudo]

silver and gold are only made to guage sizes and also listed in their mm and decimal equivalents. you would need to find the guage size nearest 1/16th inch and get the same size drill bit as the wire that you order. riogrande.com sells most precious metals in wire and sheet.

[AUBE]

1/16" is a 14guage.

i love dealing with rio grande. some of their prices are a bit high but the service has always been superb.

-Jason Aube

[Alan L]

I have had good luck dealing with Gallatin and Socha metals, www.gsgold.com. I like very much that they sell silver (haven't bought gold from them yet!) at $1 over spot commodity price at the time of order. No piddling around trying to get through the many screens of crap the other suppliers put in your way, either.

[stoneman]

Steve, I have had good results from Rio Grande, last year I ordered some stuff to make my wifes 10th Anniversary present (matching ameythst earrings and pendant in a nephrite Jade Jewelry box). The person that took the order was very friendly and helpful, and was shocked to see a UPS delivery truck the next day.

I have heard that it is cheaper to use USPS (United States Postal Service) because the border brokerage is cheaper.
Good Luck with the project!

[fitzo]

I'd add Hoover & Strong in New York, also, as an option. I get silver bezel wire for inlay work from them and have been quite happy with their quality and service both.

I like them because they only sell metals. Those Rio Grande catalogs are very dangerous to have sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in the morning...

[stoneman]

Funny you should say that Mike, I was just coming back here to say get the catalogs.
Gems and Findings and Tools and Equipment.
Very interesting stuff, and like you say dangerous on the wallet!

[fitzo]

Yes they are GREAT catalogs, Dean. So very many cool tools and supplies. I rate them right up there with Lee Valley, Woodcraft, and MSC monthly fliers for their ability to part me from money!

[TJ Smith]

Try ebay. I picked up some gold filled wire pretty reasonable there.

[SVanderkolff]

Does gold filled wire work. I have never used gold for pins before and was under the impression that I needed solid gold.
Thanks
STeve

[fitzo]

Gold filled means a gold exterior thicker than plating, but still having a core of another metal, often brass I believe. Used as pin material I would think you'd thus expose the brass at the end.

[Don Cowles]

Steve, stick with the gold. I use 14K for my pins. It costs me about (depending on spot gold price) $200 for two feet of 14 gauge wire, which is enough to do many knives of the size that I make. I get mine at a local jewelers supplier, C.R.Hill, in Berkley, MI. You could plan a stop there the next time you are here for a show.

[george tichbour]

Imperial Smelting in Markham have yellow gold, and silver wire available in many sizes.
White gold however is special order.

They usually deliver in two days or less.

[SVanderkolff]

Thanks George
I ordered from Imperial and it arrived next day.
Great service.
Thanks
Steve