Ornament hanger wire

[Dean Center]

I apologize if this has been addressed before--the search feature seems not to be working right now.

I need to hang something ornament-like and want to use a wire embedded in a base. I got some 12 gauge wire at the craft store thinking it would work, but it's too soft and flexible to support the modest weight. The hanger will need to provide about 12" of clearance and the total wire length, looped, will be about 18". I'd rather not include a mid-length support for the wire, if possible.

Any thoughts? What do you folks who make hangers for your ornaments use for the wire?

TIA.

 

[john lucas]

I have used stainless steel whisk wire. I buy the whisk from Walmart and cannabilize it taking the wire. I don't think I have any photos. Here is one that I make from Brass rod you can get at Lowes or sometimes at welding shops used for brazing.

 

[Phil Hamel]

I took several strands of thin wire and twisted them with a drill. One end was held in a vise and the other in the drill chuck. Takes a bit of tinkering to figure how many wires you need. I used 1/8 copper and needed 6. Started with about 2 feet and ended up with around 20 inches before removing waste.
Here is a pic of the first one I made that was usable. Still bends so needs one more. Works good enough for shop pics!

 

[Gregory Hickman]

I took several strands of thin wire and twisted them with a drill. One end was held in a vise and the other in the drill chuck. Takes a bit of tinkering to figure how many wires you need. I used 1/8 copper and needed 6. Started with about 2 feet and ended up with around 20 inches before removing waste.
Here is a pic of the first one I made that was usable. Still bends so needs one more. Works good enough for shop pics!
View attachment 72146

This is the first time I've seen twisted wire hanger, I like it. It is a very interesting look that I'll use in the future.

Gregory

 

[Dean Center]

I have used stainless steel whisk wire. I buy the whisk from Walmart and cannabilize it taking the wire. I don't think I have any photos. Here is one that I make from Brass rod you can get at Lowes or sometimes at welding shops used for brazing.

That's almost exactly what I have in mind. (It may take me a couple of decades to up my game to the level of your ornament, though) Thanks, John.

 

[John K Jordan]

I have used stainless steel whisk wire. I buy the whisk from Walmart and cannabilize it taking the wire.

That's almost exactly what I have in mind. (It may take me a couple of decades to up my game to the level of your ornament, though) Thanks, John.

I use the whisk wire method too, got the idea from our friend Jake years ago. I asked him just now and he can't remember - maybe got the idea from Sir Lucas!

Here's a picture of the whisk wire in use, here with a couple a ornaments I turned turned from cast acrylic.
My ornaments are simple. (And, yeah, I know, one finial is too fat.)
For a base like to cut off a small piece of otherwise not-so-useful burl which makes a nice stand when the flat cut is on the bottom.


One word of caution: I've bought several whisks from Walmart and elsewhere and they are NOT all made the same. Some do have the stainless steel wires but some appear to be plain steel with a shiny plating of nickle or chrome or something. They look the same but when these are bent to small radii the plating tends to flake off. I meant to try to figure out more about the metals but never did. Perhaps take a magnet when shopping and see if the whisk wire sticks - shouldn't stick to most stainless.

Be aware that John L is one of the world's most creative ornament makers! Look at his unique little cube ornaments - cuts 6 little "bowls' in a cube so they intersect, then embellishes. They are all different. I've got these in a place of honor in my shop (one I hung on a whisk wire stuck in a piece of burl.



A pyramid of his cubes.


And on the subject of ornaments, check out the little threaded boxes I think he calls "gift ornaments".
You can hide a little surprise gift inside, piece of candy, diamond ring!
I am blessed to have one of these as well.

(A tip: book John L for a demo at your club - you won't be sorry! Ornaments, or almost anything.
He's one of our favorite demonstrators when we manage to drag him to Knoxville.)

JKJ

 

[Don Stephan]

I think several years ago I bought thin brass welding rod. Seemed to work well on the prototype hanger I made, never have made anything to hang.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

I took several strands of thin wire and twisted them with a drill. One end was held in a vise and the other in the drill chuck.

Another way to twist wire is using a airplane mechanic pliers, but you would need a pretty big set of pliers for your heavy gauge wire.

 

[Larry Copas]

Welding shops sell 3' welding rods. They can be had in aluminum, brass, stainless steel, and carbon steel. They come in different gauges and my shop will sell it by the pound or maybe even less.

To bend it I make a form in the shape I want. You have to over bend to allow for spring back.

These were made from aluminum rod if I remember correctly.

 

[Roger Wiegand]

I've accumulated pretty much every gauge of music wire at this point, mostly stainless. Great for winding springs and making most any size/shape hanger. I buy quarter or 1 lb spools from McMaster. I've not yet used up a spool. For the loops in the tops of ornaments I use twisted copper wire because I think it looks nice and is easy to twist to make a hanging loop. I usually use leftover ends of stranded cable that I can't bear to throw away, the individual strands from #6 or 8 are a nice size

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

Who needs wire when a little ribbon will do.