Flexible beading wire is made of several strands of miniature stainless steel inside a nylon coating. It combines the softness of thread with the strength of stainless steel. It's the most abrasion resistant stringing material that you can use. Use it to create durable, flexible designs.

The main thing to know about beading wire is that the higher the number of strands, the more flexible the wire. For example, 49-strand is more flexible than 7-strand.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right beading wire for your design. The first thing to think about is how much flexibility your design will need. A bracelet, for example, will need to be more flexible because of the amount of wear and tear it will have to withstand. A simple beaded necklace may not need to be as flexible. Choose 49-strand beading wire for designs that require extreme flexibility, 19-strand for designs that require good flexibility and 7-strand for designs that require some flexibility.

When choosing the right beading wire for your design, you also need to think about the diameter. There are a wide variety of diameters, from .010" for seed beads to .036" for large-hole metal and glass beads. The most popular sizes are .015" and .018," which are good general-purpose diameters. Look at the holes on the beads you're using and choose a beading wire that fills as much of the hole as possible.

Another factor to consider is the weight of the finished piece. Check the wire packaging for the break strength of the wire. That's how much weight it will take for the wire to break. Choose wire with heavy break strength when using large or heavy beads.

Some other things that I think about when choosing which type of wire are: how much my other materials cost and how much wear and tear the design’s going to get. If the beads and clasp are more expensive, then use 49-strand because it’s more valuable, too. If it’s a very inexpensive piece, then use 7 or 19-strand instead. Use 49-strand if it’s a design that you’re going to wear a lot because the extra flexibility will help it withstand the daily wear and tear.

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