According to Wikipedia, the AWG (American Wire Gauge) system
is a standardized system used by the USA and Canada since 1857 for calculating
the gauge of mostly round, solid, nonferrous wires. Non-ferrous wires and metals do not contain iron.
Simply put, the wire is assigned a gauge based on the number
of times it is pulled through gradually smaller holes in steel plates; thus,
making it smaller with each pass. For example, that means an 18 gauge wire was
pulled through successively smaller holes 18 times, 20 gauge was pulled through 20 times and
so on.
Although I’ve been worked with gauges in metal and wire for
so long that I’m accustomed to the numbers, it might be helpful to think of
how large a wire is in terms of the number of times it is pulled –
30 gauge means it was pulled through 30 times – 14 times more than 16 gauge –
more pulls mean smaller gauge.
Hope that helps.
Now, go bead something.
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