October, 2006

Wire for Fairy Wings

Q:

I had a question about wings. I have been making wings off and on for myself and a few friends over the last few years. I have been experimenting with techniques, joined your member area, and got a couple new ideas to integrate... my question is where do you get your wire, or what would you suggest? That has been the one thing that I consistently seem to have problems with. I began looking at armature, but it is simply to soft to hold up (or at least the kind that I have seen is all ultra-soft aluminum, and only available in 4 foot lengths.). Maybe I will just give up and have ya'll do them for me!

Thanks, Melanie

A:

Hello Melanie
I had the same problem when I first started making wings. I use to buy wire that was coated in plastic, its was to pliable and sagged once I attached the fabric. You want to buy wire that has no plastic coating on it. The best wire to use is 12 gauge galvanized steel wire. Increasing gauge numbers give decreasing wire diameters, which means the lower the number the stronger the wire. 12 gauge is strong enough to hold its shape but pliable enough to bend it in the shape you want. I buy my wire in bulk of 100Ft. You can find this type of wire at home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowes. If you don't have access to those stores you can always order it on-line. Here are some links that might help you out:
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Don't give up on your wings! It took me years to figure out how to make mine, trial and error is the best way to learn.

Good luck on your wings!
Lillyxandra



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