I need stringing help! (SIGH)

Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Beadbimbo" :

]Am I going to have to give up using bead caps, or is there something ]better I should be using for stringing.

well, as i've said before, i use Fireline. [so far, no problems, and it comes in 30lb.] but yes, i've noticed the same thing on a lot of beadcaps.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

I've had 7-strand Beadalon snap on me as I was pulling the wire back through the crimp, and it will break anywhere there's been a kink in the wire. I don't use it anymore.

Anything that has been cast, like the beadcaps, will have a sharp edge, called flashing, where the halves of the mold meet. Also, the hole edges of the crystals will be sharp. Such edges will cause wear, particularly on a piece that's going to flex a lot like a bracelet.

Off-hand, I'd say move up to the 49-strand and/or a larger diameter wire. Unless you want to work with solid steel wire, breakage is going to be a fact of life.

Arondelle

Thanks Vicki,

Where do you get Fireline? Places like Rio or Shipwreck?

Thanks Arondelle,

I'd always heard not to use tigertail because of the kinking. The bracelet had another place where the stringing was wearing through, and I wasn't kinked there. I think the bead caps were just cutting into it. I'm definitely going to change to something else!

Get yourself a needle file and gently file the holes in your bead caps, same as you would for a bead that has some stubborn bead release in it. Also, put a small bead between the clasp and the crimp - puts less stress on the wire at the crimp. Also, move up to the 19 or 49 strand Beadalon or one of the Softflex wires. They are stronger, drape better and aren't as apt to break where they're stressed.

HTH!!

Mj

PS - got anymore of those wonderful sunflower/heart beads???

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Beadbimbo" :

]Where do you get Fireline? Places like Rio or Shipwreck?

no way - cheapest place i've found so far is K-Mart - in the sporting goods section - with the fishing line. you can also get it from their web site . . . but their web site is hard to find. i think it's actually cheaper at K-Mart than it is on their web site, if i'm remembering correctly.

Bass Pro Website:

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "roxan" :

]60 lb. test

WOW! now that's a weight i hadn't seen yet!

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

I personally use 49 strand .19 or .24 Soft Flex for bracelets because of repetitive wear and tear. Bead caps don't all have sharp edges, but some do, and the 7 strand stuff just does not hold up, in my experience. :)

Thanks MJ,

I'm going to look in the catalogs for a needle file. I have a sharp pointy tool I was poking through the holes and pressing against the sides, trying to flatten them.

Thanks everyone, for the advice. I'm definitely going to make some changes AND get a needle file!

Oops! Sorry! I didn't see this part. Yes, I do. Just e-me and let me know what you want and I'll send you a pic!

A funny thing happend a few weeks ago. I lady, whom I'd met when I was in Charleston, e-mailed me about the sunflowers. She wanted a set and one of the bigger sunflower hearts (even though she wasn't a "heart person" and paypaled me immediately. I was playing around and made 3 sets, with slight variations. I was going to send her the one I liked best, but I couldn't decide, so I e-mailed her and sent her a picture of all three sets. She bought ALL of them!

Jerri, I noticed the sharp edges on some of the bead caps and even though I use Fireline, I still take the precaution of filing down sharp edges. I use a round needle file, I guess you would get one through Rio.

Good luck!

Here it is on another site and it goes up to 80 pound test for $47.98 for

Oooooooo, I didn't think of that! Thanks. I'll check Home Depot. Hubby always needs an excuse to stop there, so I can get him to do it!

Awesome