whimper

[cornerofmadness]

So, I finally get the necklace beaded. I like it. I get the crimped beads almost crimped (not easy for me with the hand injury) and I pick the thing up, relax back and start to knot on the clasp. And it breaks.

whimpers. WHY does beading wire hate me? Every time i use it it snaps before i can finish. Every time someone GIVES me something made from it, it snaps before i've had it on for an hour. Hell I've had it explode just trying to hand it in my car.

Now I have to start again. I've used fishing line as a substitute most of the time. The drawback? sometimes the knots slip loose. Anyone else have any suggestions (I am of course out of fishing line. Well off to Wal-mart tomorrow I guess)

Any other crafters out there have suggestions for beading wire (and no, this wasn't cheap stuff from Wal-Mart either. Sigh)

Comments

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

Well, the one you made me must be charmed because I've worn it dozens of times and it's still fine :D People are always like "hey were did you get it", hehehe :D It's so pretty.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks. That one was made with the fishing line (i think, the bracelets are memory wire). i think i need to get back to my cheap substitutes that seem to work for me adn I'm glad you like it.

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

I love it, it's one of my favourite bracelets :)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks and yes that would be memory wire. I'm okay with that (too thick to break)

[ex-chaos-by-699.livejournal.com]

I've never used beading wire, I've only used invisible thread (which is basically clear plastic thread) which has worked fine for me. I wonder if you've got a way of handling the wire that involves using too much strength or something?

:(

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

invisible thread and/or fishing line is what i usually use. But I figured to use proper beading wire for a change. Pbttt, I'll go back to the polypropelene

I'm just happy metal sutures i used to put in didn't explode like me handling any kind of decorative wire

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I SWEAR your luck with tigertail is just the worst in the known world. *headshake* I don't know how you can't use crimp beads with your left hand - can you knot first then crimp over the top of the knot? Would that work?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i can knot and crimp. it's just hard to crush the crimp. me and tigertail are just not mixy

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

There is something very anti-Dana about tigertail.

[mstardutchess.livejournal.com]

I use the elastic cording or hemp(sp?) When I knot it I use hot glue. I've sold alot of bracelets and haven't got a complaint. I probably made a different type of necklaces than you do though.

Also try twisting two pieces of the beading wire or fishing line together. If one breaks you will have a backup so all of you beads won't go flying. LOL

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

on the bigger beads I could do the twisting of the two. I tend to work a lot with bead weaving (well more so before i ruined my hand) with those tiny tiny seed beads that nothing likes to go through. elastic and hemp are way too thick sadly

hot glue on the knots...another good idea thanks.

[rain-oubliette.livejournal.com]

What type of wire are you using? I prefer what is called Tiger's Tail - several strands of wire coated with plastic. Beadalon makes a nice version of this, too.

If you want to do knot work, wire and fishing line aren't very good. I'd suggest Silkon, a nylon thread, or hemp. It depends on what you mean by knots. If you're doing stuff where you have crystals and you need knots between them, use the Silkon. It doesn't fray when exposed to abrasive materials. http://www.firemountaingems.com/shopping.asp?skw=KWCORDSILKONMEDIUM
If you're doing macrame and need knots to create designs with stones/beads, use hemp.

If you continue to have unknotting problems, get some clear nail polish and dab it on the knot. That will prevent it from coming undone and will not detract from whatever color scheme you're creating.

meow

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

it's tigertail. I hate that crap. It always busts. I can't use hemp, it's way too heavy.

However silkon is a possibility and i like the nail polish idea. That would be useful. I've actually never have had anything unknot. I tie those things like I'm still handtying sutures. I can knot like you can't believe.

[rain-oubliette.livejournal.com]

Fishing line works really well. I actually prefer it over tigertail. Some people have issue with it since it is so hard to tie in knots, which is how I developed the nail polish idea. I was told to use jewelers glue but I don't like that stuff. I have more control with the nail polish.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that's how i feel about fishing line. I've never had it break yet. Metal is malleable. I think all the pulling i do on it breaks it (especially trying to shove in thru tiny seed beads) I'll give your idea with the polish a shot

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I always use tigertail, myself; I haven't been able to use wire very well, but tiirz uses some very light wire that seems pretty strong to me, with amazing success - she might be able to help you. Otherwise, I don't know!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i think the wire and tigertail are just too malleable and I break them. Sigh. I'll just go back to the nylon thread. it works for me

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

I've been using memory wire for necklaces lately. It isn't the most small-bead-friendly, but it never breaks, either. Crimp beads can actually cut tiger tail, a beading friend tells me. I've managed to crush the crimp bead into fragments and sever the beading wire in one fell swoop before, so I share your dislike of wire. I'm thinking of getting some of that Kevlar beading filament--bet that wouldn't go to pieces.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

well i didn't have the strength to crush these crimps but i'll keep that in mind. I think it's the back and forth with the wire that breaks it

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i can't for seed beads. For big beads I use memory wire which isn't a problem. it's those damn seed beads, you need to thread them with something the size of a hair

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

it is. i'm nuts

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I don't know nuthin bout bead'n no wi'a.

I have big, clumsy hands and could never get the hang of such delicate work. Plus, I have the patience of a 2 yr old on crack.

And I didn't know you hurt your hand. Nothing too serious I hope?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

two year old on crack. I love that. That is so me.

Oh yeah, career ending serious. I was a surgeon. the ruptured nerve ended all that.

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

Oh my... I had no idea. I always thought you had just changed your mind and wanted to teach or some such. So sorry, com. What a suckass thing to happen. *hugs*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

nope, i got taken out. Ah well