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crimp too tight - need advice

Okay, I know how to make a crimp. I've made hundreds and I do them pretty well. I even make sure not to get my 'wires crossed' before the crimp. Here's my problem: I don't like wire to show so I pull my necklace pretty taught and sometimes my beading wire gets funky and the necklace gets skewed. It's made harder by the fact that I use the wire guards (which I love) because I have to have that piece of wire pulled tight before the crimp and I end up pulling too taught.

I think my real problem is that I've never read anything about leaving "wiggle room" before crimping so I feel I have to pull it taught to get the beads as close together as possible. Then I put a crimp cover over my bead.

What is the best way to leave a little wiggle room so the necklace is loosy goosey without showing much wire, and what is deemed an appropriate amount of wire to show and where should that wire show?

Thanks.

Libbi

Reply to
beadjunky
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This is actually something I'm pretty good at. I've received quite a few complements on it and have even been told my necklaces are "flowing". :-) I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing or if it's pure luck. Heavy necklaces are more difficult. I normally try to leave about 1/8th inch between the last bead and the crimp. A few times I have left too much.. so I added an extra crimp cover between the crimp and the last bead. But remember.. if you resort to the double crimp cover option, you need to have enough slack in your necklaces for TWO (one on each end) and still have the extra 1/8th inch give.

I know I've got it right when I can hold the (closed) necklace over my hand and both sides fall against my skin.. with no wire displaying at the bend.

Good luck!

-m.

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Reply to
chaddock

Mary,

I was hoping you or somebody else who crimps on a regular basis would reply, glad you did, as I don't crimp that much, but ...

I'm wondering whether the stringing material may have something to do with it, don't have problems with SoftFlex - as well as quite possibly the shape of the beads. - I can see that it would be much harder to get a "flow" when you're stringing cube beads or cylinder beads without spacers with 'round ends' (not flat spacers, they'd be counterproductive) in between than when stringing round, bicone, rice, or other beads with 'round ends'.

Aloha, Maren HiloBeads: Beads - Beading Supplies - Hand-made Jewelry

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Reply to
Maren at google

Looks like you are right about the bead shape. I happen to have a necklace I just finished for a special order, it's 8mm Swarovski Bicones.. no spacers, not nothing.. just crystals. I had to go back and look at it to check, but it looks like about 1/4" between the crimp and the last bead. The flow is great and now wire shows on the hang. 1/8th inch would have made it too tight.

(You are probably right about the wire type too.)

Maybe there really isn't a "formula", just trial, error and instinct. :-/

-m.

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Reply to
chaddock

I usually lay out my necklaces or bracelets in a circle on the table to see how the beads will be arranged when worn, then crimp accordingly. Barbara

Bead & Polymer Clay Habitué

There is a very fine line between a hobby and mental illness. (Dave Barry)

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Okay, I know how to make a crimp. I've made hundreds and I do them

Reply to
Barbara Forbes-Lyons

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