Titanium Tale
by Lady M aka Diana White.
(Mockingbird Lane Creations)
Peacock Pendant – With 14kt gold filled accents tumbled before applying heat
Like all of us in the hand made jewelry world, we run into customers who love jewelry, but who due to allergic reactions have difficulty with even the purest fine silver.
Earwire Detail – 20g forged earwire, tumbled then heated
Body modification shops have long offered non-allergenic options like niobium and titanium. So, I already knew that it is possible to make jewelry out of Titanium. But I hadn’t seen genuine Titanium wire available anywhere.
This lack made me wonder if Titanium was so difficult to work that it could only be worked with crucible and lost wax casting. I thought that until I saw a fellow ETSYian with titanium ear wires on offer. The photos were good enough that it was easy to see the wires were hand made just like any other ear wire.
Abstract Fish Earrings – forged and tumbled before applying heat
So, I redoubled my search for Titanium wire. I ended up writing to some of my usual vendors, one of whom wrote me back and offered to special order some for me as long as I was willing to make a minimum order.
When I shared knowledge of my find with other wire workers they asked, “But how will you cut it?, Won’t it be too brittle?” These questions did make me worry that the $200.00 I would have to spend on the titanium wire might be an expensive lesson, but I shoved the worries aside and went for it.
It turns out that while titanium IS very strong, it wraps, weaves, and responds to hammering in much the same way as the other popular metals available out there.
It is easier to work than stainless steel, (much easier) not as easy as copper and silver. I might put it on a par with working brass. And the wire I was able to find comes in with a matte finish, no bright shiny wire right off of the spool.
It takes a lot longer to put on a decent polish, but it will respond fairly well to a few days in the tumbler with stainless steel shot and a drizzle of dishwashing detergent.
Woven Shank Titanium Knot Ring natural matte finish with heat patina
And it takes to heat like a peacock likes to strut around potential mates. Titanium with the judicious application of heat will take on patina in a range of vibrant colors, wait until you see the purple, indigo, bronze, gold, and green tones…wow!
The pics here show three different pieces I’ve made since the wire arrived a few months ago. I’ve not been able to dedicate as much time as I wanted working with the titanium, but I am definitely going to be ordering more of it in various gauges.
Diana White
Mockingbird Lane Creations
