Although silver wire “work hardens” as you bend it, sometimes it is not yet hard “enough” to keep its shape. One option is to tumble your work harder in a rotary or vibratory tumbler but another is to harden it through hammering.

And, although pliers are great for bending wire, they are not wonderful for its flattening. This too is where hammers comes in.

So… please read on for some comments on hammering wire in order to harden it or to change its shape.