28 – 26 AWG (0.3 – 0.4 mm)
Very fine. Weaving, bead crochet, wrapping small-hole beads and stitching wire onto frames.
Guide · Anodised wire
Anodized Aluminium Wire: Alloys, Gauges, Colours and Uses
Anodized aluminium wire is soft aluminium wire with a thin, coloured oxide layer grown on its surface, so the colour is part of the metal rather than a paint or plastic coating. It is light, easy to bend by hand, does not rust and is widely used for jewellery, wire art, bonsai training, display work and some industrial parts. This guide explains alloys, tempers, gauge sizes and how to choose and handle it.
- Alloys
- 1050 · 1100 · 1350 · 5052
- Shapes
- Round, flat, square, twisted
- Sizes
- 0.3 – 6 mm (28 – 4 AWG)
- Temper
- O (soft) to half-hard
What is anodized aluminium wire?
Wire is anodised in the same way as sheet: it is cleaned, made the anode in a sulphuric acid electrolyte so that a porous aluminium oxide film grows on the surface, dyed, and sealed. Because wire is long and thin, it is usually processed continuously from reel to reel, which gives an even colour along hundreds of metres, or in batches on loose coils for shorter runs and special colours.
The film on craft and decorative wire is thin, typically a few micrometres, because thick films crack when wire is bent. That is the central trade-off in anodised wire: the film must be thick enough to hold a strong colour and protect the surface, and thin enough to bend round small mandrels without visible crazing.
Compared with plastic-coated (enamelled or "colour-core") craft wire, anodised wire shows a metallic sheen, does not have a coating that can split or peel away from the core, and leaves bare aluminium only where it is cut. Compared with copper or brass wire, it is about one third of the weight, does not tarnish green or black, and is much softer, so it is easier on the hands but less able to hold a shape under load.
Alloys and tempers for anodised wire
| Alloy | Character | Typical tempers | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1050 / 1070 | 99.5 – 99.7 % aluminium; very soft, brightest colours | O, H12, H14 | Jewellery, beading, wire art, florist wire |
| 1100 | 99.0 % aluminium with a little copper; slightly stronger, very formable | O, H14, H18 | Craft and armature wire, bonsai wire, tie wire |
| 1350 | Electrical-conductor grade, high purity | O, H19 (drawn) | Base wire for anodised conductor and specialist coil applications |
| 5052 / 5056 | Magnesium alloys; stiffer, hold shape better | O, H32, H38 | Structural craft frames, clips, rivet and fastener wire |
| 6061 | Heat-treatable; much stronger, less ductile | O, T4, T6 | Pins and parts that are anodised after forming |
Temper decides how the wire feels. O temper (annealed) is dead soft: it bends by hand, wraps tightly and is the standard for jewellery and bonsai. Half-hard (H14 or similar) wire springs back slightly and holds shapes such as ear wires, clasps and jump rings better. Aluminium work-hardens as it is bent, so a coil that has been straightened, re-bent and reworked will gradually stiffen and eventually crack. Once anodised, wire cannot be re-annealed without spoiling the colour, so plan forms so that each section is bent as few times as possible.
Anodised aluminium wire gauge chart (AWG to mm)
Craft wire is sold by American Wire Gauge (AWG) in North America and by millimetre elsewhere; a higher gauge number means thinner wire. Diameters below are calculated from the AWG formula, and mass per metre and length per kilogram from aluminium's density of 2.70 g/cm³. Use them to convert between coil weight and coil length.
| Gauge | Diameter (mm) | Diameter (in) | Mass (g per metre) | Length per kg (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 AWG | 0.32 | 0.013 | 0.22 | 4574 |
| 26 AWG | 0.40 | 0.016 | 0.35 | 2877 |
| 24 AWG | 0.51 | 0.020 | 0.55 | 1809 |
| 22 AWG | 0.64 | 0.025 | 0.88 | 1138 |
| 20 AWG | 0.81 | 0.032 | 1.40 | 716 |
| 18 AWG | 1.02 | 0.040 | 2.22 | 450 |
| 16 AWG | 1.29 | 0.051 | 3.53 | 283 |
| 14 AWG | 1.63 | 0.064 | 5.62 | 178 |
| 12 AWG | 2.05 | 0.081 | 8.93 | 112 |
| 10 AWG | 2.59 | 0.102 | 14.21 | 70 |
| 8 AWG | 3.26 | 0.128 | 22.59 | 44 |
| 6 AWG | 4.12 | 0.162 | 35.91 | 28 |
Coils sold by weight therefore contain very different lengths: one kilogram of 20 AWG wire is roughly 700 m, while one kilogram of 10 AWG wire is only about 70 m. When comparing prices, compare length as well as weight.
Which wire size for which job?
24 – 22 AWG (0.5 – 0.65 mm)
Wire-wrapping beads and stones, small wrapped loops, fine coils and woven bezels.
20 – 18 AWG (0.8 – 1.0 mm)
Ear wires, eye pins, jump rings and general wire jewellery; the most popular craft sizes.
16 – 14 AWG (1.3 – 1.6 mm)
Clasps, heavy jump rings, chain-maille, frames for pendants and small sculptures.
12 – 10 AWG (2.0 – 2.6 mm)
Bangles, cuffs, armatures, lettering and display shapes; heavier bonsai branches.
8 – 4 AWG (3.3 – 5.2 mm) and up to 6 mm
Bonsai trunks and thick branches, garden and display structures, large wire art.
For bonsai, the usual rule is to choose wire about one third of the branch diameter, and anodised aluminium in brown, copper or black tones is preferred because it blends into the bark and does not corrode. Annealed copper is stronger at the same diameter and is still used on conifers, but aluminium is easier to apply and remove and does not mark the bark as easily.
Wire shapes, colours and finishes
Common forms
- Round wire
- The standard form; 0.3 – 6 mm diameter
- Flat wire
- Rectangular section, for example 1 × 3 mm or 1 × 5 mm; used for bands, rings and lettering
- Square and half-round wire
- For rings, cuffs and settings where edges or a domed profile are wanted
- Twisted and textured wire
- Two or more strands twisted, or knurled wire, anodised after forming
- Coil sizes
- Small hobby spools, 0.5 – 5 kg coils and larger industrial reels
- Colours
- Silver, black, gold, light gold, bronze, brown, copper, red, blue, green, purple, pink, turquoise and custom shades
Dyed colours on wire are produced with organic dyes, which give bright, saturated shades indoors. Strong sunlight will fade some dyes, especially red, pink, purple and turquoise, over months to years. For outdoor use such as garden sculptures or bonsai kept outdoors, choose black, brown, bronze or natural silver.
Handling and working tips
- Use nylon-jaw or polished pliers. Serrated steel jaws scratch through the coloured film and show bright metal.
- Cut cleanly. Flush cutters leave a small bare end; that is normal and does not corrode in ordinary use.
- Avoid repeated reworking. Bending the same point back and forth work-hardens and eventually breaks soft aluminium.
- Keep it away from strong alkalis and acids. Oven cleaners, bleach and descalers attack the oxide film.
- Skin contact: aluminium wire is nickel-free metal, but some sealing processes use nickel salts. Ask for nickel-free sealing where wire is intended for wearers with nickel sensitivity.
- Store dry and coiled. Kinked wire is hard to straighten without marking the colour.
Where anodised aluminium wire is used
- Jewellery and beading: wrapped pendants, earrings, chain-maille, bangles and rings
- Wire art and armatures: sculptures, lettering, figure armatures for clay and papier-mâché
- Bonsai and gardening: branch training wire and plant supports
- Floristry and decoration: bouquets, crowns, festive ornaments and display shapes
- Retail display: light frames, hangers and sign hooks
- Fasteners: rivet and pin wire in 5xxx and other alloys that is anodised for corrosion protection and colour coding
Metline supplies anodised and bare aluminium wire to distributors, craft brands, manufacturers and fabricators; finished jewellery, kits and components are made by our customers.
References and standards
- ASTM B211 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Rolled or Cold-Finished Bar, Rod, and Wire
- EN 1301 – Aluminium and aluminium alloys: drawn wire
- ISO 7599 – Anodizing of aluminium and its alloys: decorative and protective anodic oxidation coatings
- ASTM B258 – Standard nominal diameters and cross-sectional areas of AWG sizes of solid round wires
- The Aluminum Association – International Alloy Designations and Chemical Composition Limits
Anodized aluminium (aluminum) wire: frequently asked questions
What is anodized aluminum wire made of?
Most craft and bonsai wire is high-purity aluminium (1050, 1070 or 1100) in the soft O temper, with a thin dyed and sealed oxide layer. Stiffer wire for clasps or structural shapes uses half-hard tempers or 5xxx alloys.
Does anodised wire lose its colour?
The colour is sealed inside the oxide and does not rub off in normal handling, but steel tools can scratch through it and strong sunlight can fade some dyes over time. Black, brown, bronze and silver are the most durable for outdoor use.
What gauge aluminium wire is best for jewellery?
20 and 18 AWG (about 0.8 – 1.0 mm) are the most versatile for loops, ear wires and jump rings; 24 – 22 AWG suits wrapping beads; 14 – 12 AWG suits bangles and frames.
Is aluminium wire good for bonsai?
Yes. Anodised aluminium wire is soft, light, does not corrode and is easy to remove. Choose wire about one third of the branch thickness, and remove it before it bites into the bark.
Is anodised aluminium wire safe for skin?
Aluminium itself is not a common skin allergen and contains no nickel. Some anodising seals use nickel salts, so specify nickel-free sealing for jewellery intended for people with nickel sensitivity.
Can I anneal anodised aluminium wire to soften it?
Not without damaging the finish. Heating enough to anneal aluminium (around 345 °C) will darken or destroy organic dyes. Buy the temper you need, usually O temper for maximum softness.
Need anodised aluminium wire in bulk?
Send the alloy, gauge or diameter, colour, coil size and quantity. We will reply with availability and a delivered price.
