What kind of metal is the cheapish silver wire that's sold in craft stores made out of?

Here’s a picture of it. They just call it “beading wire” on the website, grrrr.

Usually Nickel which some people are highly allergic to, which is why you have to disclose. But most beading wire specifically sold under that name, is made of stainless steel.

That’s why it’s good to buy American made products, I think the only way to know for sure is to contact the company and inquire as they do not have to legally disclose.

If the wire was made in China, they may have an American liasion that you could contact and ask?

This is from Wickipedia… but I know for a fact that not all beading wire is Stainless steel.

“Beading Wire is a twisted stainless steel wire with a nylon coating. It is good to use with abrasive beads. A thinner wire will give an appealing drape to lightweight beads such as gemstone heishe, liquid gold, or liquid silver and bugle or seed beads. A thicker weight wire should be used to accommodate larger, heavier bead strands.”

Wickipedia.com

@GabrielsLamb Thanks, it’s a little different from that description of beading wire, though. It is not a twisted core with a coating; it is just a solid piece of wire. I think it may be stainless steel.

@Mariah Does it have a label? You may need a magnifying glass to see it, but the information, what metal it is, may be on the label somewhere.

@lillycoyote I threw away the packaging long ago, but maybe next time I go to the store I can look at the packaging on one there. Thanks!

If it helps, it appears to tarnish pretty easily.

Well if it wasn’t tarnishing, you would know that it probably doesn’t have brass in it, but if it is tarnishing it may have some copper?

Metals items are almost always mixed proprietary alloys for just such reasons.

http://www.lushaejewelry.com/jewelry-jad.asp?p=Jewelry-Metals

http://www.rings-things.com/METALS.HTM

Hope that helps!

I want to say it’s aluminum. I’ve just bought some copper wire, and all the other wire was aluminum with some kind of plating.