There are several vendors who are making and selling jigs for making jewelry. Many people ask which jewelry making jig is right for them. I will try to answer that question for you.
First, if one car were right for everyone, we wouldn't need more than one car manufacturer; but one car is not right for everyone. With jewelry making jigs the same thing applies -- there isn't one jig that is absolutely right for everyone. Different jigs do different things. Jigs can have different sizes of pegs, they can have different spacing between the holes in the pattern and they can have different patterns. Both jigs and the pegs for the jigs can also be made of a variety of materials. Jewelry making jigs can come in a variety of sizes. Finally, some jigs are made better than others. No wonder jewelry makers are confused about which jig to buy!
Regular Peg Sizes:
The regular pegs for jigs usually come in three different sizes -- small, medium or large. The small pegs are 1/16" in diameter. The medium pegs are 3/32" in diameter and the large pegs are 1/8" in diameter. The size of the pegs determines the smallest size bend or loop that you can make with that jig. A jig with 1/8" pegs won't be able to make bends with a radius of less that the circumference of the 1/8" peg. You can always go larger using accessories called Super Pegs, but you can't go smaller than the size of the pegs. For making jewelry, having the option to make smaller loops and tighter bends is probably the better alternative. For making larger items like sun-catchers or mobiles, perhaps the medium size pegs might be better. For people who want to make larger, bolder jewelry designs, perhaps the medium size pegs would also be better. Once you understand what you want to make, choose the size pegs that best match your needs remembering that the size of the pegs determines the smallest loop that can be made by that jig.
Hole Spacing:
The hole spacing of jigs is very similar to the size of pegs. In general, jigs with small pegs (1/16") will have five holes per inch, spaced .2 inches apart. Jigs with medium pegs (3/32") will have a peg pattern that is four holes per inch, spaced .25 inches apart. Jigs with large pegs will have a peg pattern that has a larger spacing between pegs. With hole spacing, more peg holes available per inch the more design options you will have with that jig. You can always space your pegs further apart by leaving an empty hole between two pegs, but you can't space your pegs closer together than the hole spacing on the jig allows.
Pattern of Holes:
In the beginning there was only one choice for the pattern of holes -- square. The holes in jigs were laid out in a square matrix, horizontally and vertically. You can do a lot with a square peg pattern, but you can't make a 30 degree angle or a 60 degree angle. These two angles are very important because they are part of an equilateral triangle. The equilateral triangle is a triangle with each side having the same length and each angle being 60 degrees. The symmetry of this triangle is esthetically more appealing than non-equilateral triangles and is often used in art, architecture and jewelry. An equilateral triangle is made up of two 30/60/90 triangles, with one angle being 30 degrees, another angle being 60 degrees and the final angle being 90 degrees. This 30/60/90 triangle is also an important design shape. Since these two important triangles (equilateral and 30/60/90) can not be made with a square peg pattern jig, Wig Jig has developed jigs with a round peg pattern (WigJig Cyclops and WigJig Electra). There are many shapes like a star that can be made easily on a jig with a round peg pattern that can't be easily made on a jig with a square peg pattern. Finally, Wig Jig also developed a jig with both a square peg pattern and 1/2 of a round peg pattern on the same jig (WigJig Centaur). For making jewelry, this jig may be the best possible compromise for meeting all requirements in a single jewelry making jig. For those of you who want to do everything, you should consider getting a square jig and a round jig. For those of you who want a single jig with the most possible functionality, the WigJig Centaur is recommended.
Materials for Jigs:
There are two basic options for jig material -- metal or plastic. In selecting the material for your jig the choice is easy. The acrylic plastic used in better quality jigs is as strong or stronger than aluminum. Do you want a jig that you can see through or one that you can't see through? Most people realize that having a jig that you can see through allows you to place a pattern below the jig and easily see where to place your pegs. If you have patterns that you want to make over and over again, being able to see through your jig is a very important attribute allowing you to quickly set up your jig for a new pattern. The Wig Jig company has six jigs made of aircraft quality acrylic plastic that are both very strong and clear so they are easy to see through.
Accessories:
There are two types of accessories for jigs that are very popular. The first are pegs shaped like mushrooms, where the stem of the mushroom fits into a hole in the jig and the top of the mushroom provides a larger surface for making rounded shapes in wire. These accessory pegs are called Super Pegs by some Wig Jig and come in sizes from 3/16" to 2" in diameter. The final accessory to consider is the Spiral Maker. The Spiral Maker accessory works with the jig to make it easy to make spirals without tool marks. It is suggested that when selecting a jewelry making jig that you choose one that can sell you all the accessories you might need -- Super Pegs and Spiral Maker. You don't need to purchase all of these accessories initially, but you do need to ensure that you will be able to purchase these accessories in the future.
Recommendation:
Before you purchase a jig, you need to understand how you plan on using it. If your primary interest is in making jewelry, then having smaller pegs is an advantage. You also should consider the peg pattern you will want to use. The perfect solution is to purchase a jig with a square peg pattern and another jig with a round peg pattern. The next best solution is to purchase one jig with both a square peg pattern and 1/2 of a round peg pattern. I recommended that you select a jig with metal pegs, but a clear acrylic base. Finally, choose a jig that will have the accessories and the sizes of accessories that you will want.
See all my Wig Jigs, accessories and other jewelry making goodies here.
