Straightening memory wire?

No, you cannot straighten memory wire - that's kind of the point of its existence. You can probably buy steel wire in the lengths that you need OR use thin mandrels originally purposed as lampwork bead mandrels. Look around for welding suppliers. You want brazing rod.

Barbara

Blogs at and There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)

Need quality, >Anyone have any experience straightening memory wire?

I took a chain mail class last year at my LBS, and the instructor had some thin metal dowel-y things which (if my fuzzy memory serves), she called 'piano wires'. She mentioned they were available at the local train hobby supply store. They were pretty long and she had to cut them to length for us to use. I haven't seen them at Michael's, so if you have a hobby store near you give them a call.

Karen

quixote wrote:

I took a chain mail class last year at my LBS, and the instructor had some thin metal dowel-y things which (if my fuzzy memory serves), she called 'piano wires'. She mentioned they were available at the local train hobby supply store. They were pretty long and she had to cut them to length for us to use. I haven't seen them at Michael's, so if you have a hobby store near you give them a call.

Karen

quixote wrote:

Barbara is right (as my experience goes), but you can stretch it out a bit, and if you clamp it in tightly on both ends it's probably as straight as originally non-straight wire comes. (I have restrung a pretty heavy necklace on memory wire for somebody and make-shift wire-wrapped the ends to put a clasp on (the thing weighs almost 2 lb), it's doable, and the necklace is quite a bit longer than the curvature of the memory wire was meant to be, and with the weight it does hang OK).

If you have to go with memory wire, get the largest diameter coild you can get (necklace size), but as Karen suggested, piano wire (or guitar strings) might be an easier way to go.

- For guitar strings you'd have to go to a music store. Or, actually, I think where I am Longs (drug store) carries them. -

Maren (haven't been around much, and w> No, you cannot straighten memory wire - that's kind of the point of its

I just had one other idea (while looking at my crafting stuff): floral stem wire. Readily available at places like Michael's, and available in (I think) different widths.

Karen

K. M. wrote:

Floral wire is too soft -- as you noted.

The "piano wire" is what you want - it is hardended steel - like memory wire, but it is straight. Look in your yellow pages for HOBBY SHOPS that cater to the model airplane crowd - you will find it there- it is relatively inexpensvie... and comes in a variety of diameter (gauges).

Cheryl

quixote wrote: