What type of bead to use?

Question

Hi, I want to make some articulated toys from wood, strung together with nylon cord. There will be beads between the wooden components, acting as decorative spacers. Some of the constructions will be quite rigid and some will need to be more flexible. I would ideally like the beads to be colorful and shiny but their most important feature will need to be their resistance to the pressures caused by the flexing wooden components. Can anyone please tell me what kind of bead would be most suitable for this job?

Kind regards, Lila Duncan

Sue Walker · Accepted Answer

Have you thought about just using wooden beads?  Maybe some can be found already painted -- or you could spray paint them yourself....  Just a thought.

LilaDuncan · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion. Wooden beads will probably be quite tough by comparison with some brittle types of glass beads. I have this idea that the color and sparkle of faceted glass or crystal beads would add a lot to the visual effect. Whether there are some of these types of beads that are particularly tough, I've yet to learn.

Kind regards, Lila Duncan.

Vibrant Jewels · Answer

You might try acrylic beads... are you making toys or art objects? If toys,  the acrylic beads would be tougher than glass.

JB · Answer

The first thing that came to my mind is the big  wooden beads kids use to  string with the thick cords.  Glass breaks.  There just isn't any tough  enough for a kid, so I wouldn't use it for a toy.  I've seen acrylic beads  like you describe.  Bet if you do a search you can find them. Joan

bluemaxx · Answer

Lila, you could use plastic or lucite beads.  They're pretty tough and I  imagine they would flex more than glass.  Plastic beads come in lovely  colors and shapes nowadays... some even look like crystal with the way  they're faceted. Here's a link to some larger plastic beads.... they're 20mm, 18mm & 15mm  And this link has LOTS of colors, with a $20 min. order...  hugs, Linda : Thanks for the suggestion. : Wooden beads will probably be quite tough by comparison with some : brittle types of glass beads. I  have this idea that the color and : sparkle of faceted glass or crystal beads would add a lot to the : visual effect. Whether there are some : of these types of beads that are particularly tough, I've yet to : learn. : : Kind regards, : Lila Duncan. :

LilaDuncan · Answer

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and the links. I'm going to try the acrylic beads. Some of them look lovely. I'm trying to develop a range of items, including toys, that have a distinctive design style. Once I find the practical combinations I most like, I can go into production.

Kind regards, Lila Duncan.

What type of bead to use?

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