Description
WIRE SIZES AND USES – Lengths are 5 metres. Copper is 10 metres. Details below.
12-Gauge Wire(2mm) Length 5 metres: This is a thicker and stronger wire, suitable for heavier and larger needle-felted sculptures. It provides excellent support for larger pieces and helps maintain their shape and stability. You might use 12-gauge wire for larger animals or sculptures with thicker limbs and bodies.
14-Gauge Wire(1.5mm) Length 5 metres: Slightly thinner than 12-gauge wire, 14-gauge wire can also be used for medium-sized sculptures. It’s a good compromise between strength and flexibility and works well for armatures that need to support moderate weight.
16-Gauge Wire(1.3mm): This gauge is suitable for medium-sized sculptures or pieces that require a balance between strength and flexibility. It’s often used for sculptures that have both delicate and thicker elements.
18-Gauge Wire(1mm) Length 5 metres: Thinner than the previous gauges, 18-gauge wire is appropriate for small to medium-sized sculptures and armatures that need more flexibility. It’s often used for creating finer details in the sculpture.
20-Gauge Wire(0.8mm) Length 5 metres: The thinnest commonly used gauge, 20-gauge wire is suitable for very small sculptures or for adding delicate features like fingers and toes. It offers the most flexibility but may not provide as much support for heavier elements.
You may also use a combination of gauges in a single armature to achieve the desired balance of strength and flexibility for different parts of the sculpture.
24-Gauge Copper Wire(0.5mm) Length 10 metres: The thinnest commonly used gauge, 25-gauge wire is suitable for very small sculptures or for adding delicate features like fingers and toes. It offers the most flexibility but may not provide as much support for heavier elements.
You may also use a combination of gauges in a single armature to achieve the desired balance of strength and flexibility for different parts of the sculpture.
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HOW TO CONVERT ARMATURE WIRE GAUGE TO MILLIMETRES
This table should help you quickly convert wire gauge measurements to their approximate millimetre equivalents. American and British gauges are slightly different so here are both for you.
AWG (American Wire Gauge) to Millimetres:
| AWG Gauge | Approximate Diameter (mm) |
| 10 | 2.588 mm |
| 12 | 2.053 mm |
| 14 | 1.628 mm |
| 16 | 1.291 mm |
| 18 | 1.024 mm |
| 20 | 0.8128 mm |
| 22 | 0.6442 mm |
| 24 | 0.5117 mm |
| 26 | 0.4039 mm |
| 28 | 0.3211 mm |
| 30 | 0.254 mm |
SWG (Standard British Wire Gauge) to Millimetres:
| SWG Gauge | Approximate Diameter (mm) |
| 6 | 4.877 mm |
| 8 | 4.191 mm |
| 10 | 3.251 mm |
| 12 | 2.947 mm |
| 14 | 2.108 mm |
| 16 | 1.628 mm |
| 18 | 1.219 mm |
| 20 | 0.9144 mm |
| 22 | 0.7112 mm |
| 24 | 0.5599 mm |
| 26 | 0.4572 mm |
| 28 | 0.3765 mm |
| 30 | 0.315 mm |
