Round Tube
Unlock Your Creative Potential with Premium Round Tubes
At Ore Metals, our collection of jewellery-making round tubes offers a wide range of possibilities for artisans and designers. Crafted from sterling silver, 9ct and 18ct yellow and white gold alloys, as well as base metals like brass and copper, these tubes provide the versatility needed to bring any design to life. Whether you're creating intricate necklace components or delicate earring posts, our tubes offer the perfect balance of durability and aesthetic appeal.
A Variety of Materials to Suit Every Design
Our round tubes come in a selection of materials, each offering unique benefits. Sterling silver provides a sleek, sophisticated look, while yellow and white gold alloys add a touch of luxury. Brass and copper are excellent choices for experimenting and refining your designs. These materials ensure that you have the flexibility to create pieces that resonate with your artistic vision, whether you're working on modern, minimalist designs or classic, intricate styles.
Precision and Quality for Professional Results
Each round tube is meticulously crafted to ensure consistent thickness and composition, allowing for easy manipulation without compromising the metal's integrity. This precision is essential for detailed work, enabling you to cut, shape, engrave, and solder with confidence. Whether you’re working on custom hinges or intricate designs, our tubes are designed to meet the highest standards of quality, ensuring that your creations are not only beautiful but also built to last.
Ideal for Ethical Jewellery Making
We are committed to supporting ethical jewellery practices. Our round tubes are available in options made from recycled metals, allowing you to create stunning jewellery pieces while minimising environmental impact. This commitment to sustainability aligns with the growing demand for eco-friendly and responsible jewellery, making our products the perfect choice for the conscientious designer.
Versatile Sizing for Every Project
Available in various diameters and lengths, our round tubes cater to a wide range of jewellery-making needs. Whether you're crafting bold statement pieces or delicate details, our tubes can be customised to fit your specific requirements. This versatility makes them an essential addition to any jeweller's toolkit, offering endless possibilities for creativity and innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Round tubes are used in jewellery making for creating structural components, such as functional hinge components and bases for further design. They are also ideal for bezels, bails, and other decorative elements, providing both strength and a polished appearance in various designs.
Yes, recycled metals can be used with jewellery making round tubes. Sterling silver, gold, brass, and copper round tubes are made from recycled metals, allowing jewellers to create eco-friendly designs without compromising quality or durability.
Round tubes offer versatility, strength, and ease of use in jewellery design. They allow for seamless construction of various components, provide a polished finish, and are available in a wide range of materials and sizes, making them ideal for both modern and traditional designs.
To cut round tubes without damaging them, use a jeweller’s saw with fine teeth saw blades. Secure the tube in a vice or clamp, and cut slowly with steady pressure. For precise results, ensure the blade is sharp and lubricated and use a guide to maintain a straight cut.
Jewellery tubes are available in a variety of sizes, typically ranging from 1mm to 10mm in inner diameter..
Incorporate jewellery tubes into ethical jewellery designs by choosing tubes made from recycled or responsibly sourced metals. These materials reduce environmental impact and align with sustainable practices, allowing you to create beautiful jewellery that supports ethical values.
The best way to solder round tubes is to use a steady heat source, such as a torch, and apply solder evenly at the joint. Flux the area first to promote smooth solder flow, and heat the tube evenly to ensure a strong, clean join without overheating.
Yes, round tubes can be used to create bezels in jewellery. They are great for setting round stones, as they can be cut to size and shaped to fit the stone, providing a secure and aesthetically pleasing setting.
To polish round tubes, use progressively finer polishing compounds and buffing wheels. Start with a rough polish to remove scratches, then move to finer compounds for a mirror-like finish. Ultrasonic cleaning can also help remove residue and enhance shine
Round tubes offer a smooth, cylindrical shape, ideal for creating flowing lines and round components like ring shanks and bezels. Square tubes provide angular edges, which are better suited for modern or geometric designs, offering a different aesthetic and structural strength.
No, round tubes are generally too large to be used as earring posts. Earring posts are typically 0.8mm in diameter, which is much smaller than most round tubes. Instead, solid wire or pre-made earring posts are used to create earrings for a secure and comfortable fit.
The most durable materials for round tubes in jewellery are gold alloys (such as 9ct or 18ct gold) and sterling silver. These materials provide strength, resistance to tarnishing, and longevity, making them ideal for high-quality, long-lasting jewellery pieces.
To ensure precision when cutting round tubes, use a fine-toothed jeweller’s saw or tube cutter, and secure the tube in a clamp or vice. Mark the cutting line clearly and cut slowly with consistent pressure. Use a guide or jig for perfectly straight cuts.
Yes, round tubes are versatile and can be used in both modern and traditional jewellery designs. Their clean, smooth lines suit contemporary styles, while their adaptability makes them ideal for classic designs like bezels, ring shanks, beads and decorative elements.
Round tubes from Ore Metals are incredibly versatile and can be used to craft a wide array of jewellery items. They're perfect for making elegant hinge components in bracelets and necklaces, custom bezels for unique gemstone settings in rings and pendants, or as structural elements in modern, geometric earrings.
Our high-quality tubes ensure durability and a professional finish for both intricate custom pieces and more substantial jewellery designs.
To form round tubes into complex shapes, use forming tools such as mandrels, pliers, and stakes. Anneal the metal to increase its pliability, then gradually shape the tube, applying even pressure to avoid kinks or deformation. For intricate shapes, use specialised jigs or molds.
Yes, brass round tubes are suitable for jewellery making. Brass offers a warm, golden hue at a lower cost than gold, making it a popular choice for decorative elements and structural components. It is durable, easy to work with, and can be polished to a high shine.
Selecting the right metal type for your round tube depends on the design and functionality of your jewellery piece.
Sterling silver is excellent for high-shine, everyday jewellery, while 9ct gold options provide a luxurious touch suitable for high-end creations.
Brass and copper round tubes are great for practice or creating pieces with a vintage feel. Consider the metal's malleability, colour, and the final look you wish to achieve when making your choice.
For personalized advice, our team at Ore Metals is ready to guide you based on your specific needs and preferences.
In mixed-metal jewellery designs, round tubes can be used to create contrast and visual interest. Combine different metals, like silver and gold, by incorporating round tubes into the design. Soldering can be used to join different metals seamlessly.
Store jewellery making round tubes in a dry, cool environment to prevent tarnishing or oxidation. Keep them in a compartmentalized box or tube holder to avoid scratching or bending. For precious metals, consider using anti-tarnish strips or cloths.
Yes, round tubes are ideal for ring designs, especially for creating seamless, smooth shanks or decorative elements. They can be cut and shaped to fit the design, and offer the strength needed for durable, comfortable rings.
After soldering, clean round tubes using a pickle solution to remove oxidation and flux residue. Rinse thoroughly and polish with a polishing cloth or compound to restore the tube’s shine. Ultrasonic cleaners can also be used for a deeper clean.
Gold round tubes offer luxury, durability, and resistance to tarnishing. They provide a rich, warm tone that enhances the value of the jewellery, and are ideal for high-end designs that require long-lasting, high-quality materials.
To achieve a patina on silver round tubes, use a patina solution like liver of sulphur. There are multiple techniques available to achieve a range of effects e.g. Submerge the tubes in the solution, then rinse and polish to achieve contrasting or complementary shades or patterns. Patinas add depth and contrast, enhancing the visual appeal of the piece.
Yes, round tubes can be used for structural components in jewellery. They provide strength and stability, making them ideal for ring shanks, bracelet frames, hinge components and other elements that require durability while maintaining a sleek, polished look.
To set gemstones in round tubes, cut the tube to the appropriate height and file the edges smooth. Insert the stone, ensuring a snug fit, and gently push the edges of the tube over the stone with a bezel pusher or burnisher to secure it in place.
Yes, round tubes can be resized by cutting them to the desired length or stretching them slightly if needed. However, care must be taken to maintain the tube’s structural integrity and avoid thinning or deforming the metal.
Common issues when working with round tubes include kinking during bending, uneven cuts, and difficulty in soldering if the fit is not precise. To avoid these, ensure proper tools and techniques are used, and always measure and mark carefully before cutting or shaping.
Create custom shapes with round tubes by using forming tools like mandrels, pliers, and jigs. Anneal the metal first to make it more malleable, then shape it gradually, applying even pressure. For complex shapes, consider using a tube-bending machine or laser cutting.
The best solder for joining round tubes is a solder that matches the metal of the tube to ensure a seamless finish. E.g. silver solder for silver tubes. Apply flux to the joint and heat evenly for the best results.
Measure the internal diameter of round tubes using a vernier calliper or an inside micrometer. Insert the measuring tool into the tube and gently adjust it until it fits snugly. Read the measurement on the tool to determine the precise internal diameter. This method ensures accurate measurements, which are crucial for fitting components or setting stones.
Yes, round tubes can be used in wire-wrapped jewellery as structural elements or decorative components. They can add dimension and stability to the design, especially when combined with wire of varying gauges. Use thinner tubes for finer details and thicker tubes for more robust, structural parts.
Seamless round tubes are made from a single piece of metal without any joints or seams, providing superior strength and a smooth appearance. Seamed tubes are created by joining two edges together, which may have a visible seam and slightly lower structural integrity. Seamless tubes are preferred for high-quality, precision work, while seamed tubes are more cost-effective and suitable for less demanding applications.
Ethical round jewellery tube can be purchased from suppliers like Ore Metals who specialise in recycled metals and sustainable jewellery-making supplies. Look for statements from suppliers that confirm their commitment to ethical sourcing and environmentally friendly practices.