What type/brand of wire do you recommend for beading projects?

Question

I'm taking up bead jewelery making but there are so many types & brands of wires, I'm not sure what to start with and don't have the money to buy many different kinds. I'm looking for something strong, but flexible.

Answer 1

Hi there

I use Impex brand monofilament. It's clear in colour and not dissimilar to fishing line. It has a breaking strength of 20lbs - I have tried to break it with my bare hands to test it and found it impossible!

I find monofilament is particularly suited to the way in which I prefer to secure my necklaces. When I have threaded on the last bead I pass the end of the thread through a French crimp, through the jump ring and then back through the French crimp. I then thread it back down through at least two/three inches of the beads before pulling the thread taut and squashing the crimp. (I always leave plenty of thread to do this with!)

The other great thing about monofilament is that it is stiff enough to just push it through the beads, you don't need a needle.

While monofilament is flexible, it's not stretchy. So if you want to do stretchy bracelets, for instance, I would recommend you buy some Stretch Magic as well as monofilament. I use the .5mm diameter. The pack gives great instructions on the how to fasten it securely.

When I first started, three years ago, I bought several rolls of Tiger Tail - I still have them, I just find it not flexible enough for the sort of things I make, plus it can get kinked very easily.

Making jewellery is a wonderful, creative thing to do and totally addictive! Good luck and happy beading!

Answer 2

I cant believe this, i also have recently taken up beading lucky for you i do not have the monetary constraints and I've tried every wire,string,cord and hemp product to be found in your average super-walmart which is extensive to say the least. first for a necklace a tiger-tail works wonderfully assuming your not interested in tying knots in hemp or leather, it is strong,flexible and very thin for the smallest of holes, use crimping beads at least two per end with a bead that has a hole big enough to slide over the smashed metal to hide them, super glue is your friend here, this wire has a thin coat of plastic that makes for a great bond. there is also memory wire which holds its preformed shape great for bracelets that need no clasp. nylon is less trustworthy but if you're on a budget try spider-wire fishing line 20# test light flexible thin and you wont be able to break it by hand not to mention you get 1050 feet for under 20$ much better than .89 cents for 15 feet of flimsy mono-filament beading line and it is as thin or thinner than a human hair about .005" and less. mail your achievements to me I'd like to know how you fare i am still learning myself.

Answer 3

There are a lot of different cordings that can be used to make "bead jewelry," so it would depend on what you want to do... what size the beads are as well as their weight, the drapability you want in the final product, whether the bead material could abraid and break the cording over time where the hole edges rub, etc.

Some cordings are thin, some are thicker... some are made from plastic, some from metal, some from other materials... some are really flexible and drape a lot, some drape only some ... some are stronger than others, etc., etc.

There's a bunch of info on different types of cordings on these pages at my website if you want to check them out:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/jewelry.htm
(... click on "Cords for Beads"...these are the thinner cordings)

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/pendants_cording.htm
(...click on "Cording" ...these are medium and thicker ones)

And if you're interested in various kinds of "wire" for your jewelry:
http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/wire.htm


Have fun!

Diane B.

Answer 4

My cat did the main suitable comparable element final might (comparable cloth and each thing, even with the shown fact that i think of i might have a extra versatile style with extra strands), yet we did not comprehend she'd eaten it until she pooped it out. We observed she became rubbing her butt on the floor and then observed that there became some poop caught to it. as quickly as we tried to eliminate the feces with some bathroom paper, questioning in line with risk it became related to a human hair or something, we found out it became extremely a string of my beading cord and we very heavily pulled it out of her. i became afraid this might have brought about a rectal tear or something of the variety, yet we stored an eye fixed on her habit for some days and she or he gave the impression to be large. That suggested, i might probable might desire to accept as true with every person else it is asserting to take your cat to the vet. you will possibly desire to attend an afternoon or 2 to work out if he passes it, yet whilst it is composed of something like this, extra effective secure than sorry. purely because of the fact my cat surpassed hers acceptable would not inevitably propose yours will, even with the shown fact that that is achieveable. sturdy success!

Answer 5

I recommend either Softflex or Accuflex wire.. If your looking for something cheap just to practice on Beadalon is great also but Softflex or Accuflex are what I use for my finished, sellable pieces. To me, they are perfect wires built to last..

Answer 6

I MAKE JEWELRY BUT I FOUND THAT USING TIGER TAIL TO MAKE JEWELRY MAINLY NECKLACES IT SHAPES THE NECKLACES. IT'S ONLY A 1.50 AT JOANN FABRICS IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE NEAR YOU OR MICHEALS

Answer 7

i always use fishing line....it's very durable and inexpensive.