Beadalon’s Basic Bead Stringing Rules

Sharp-edged beads, beads with burrs, heavy beads, and tightly strung designs can, over time, cut through bead stringing wire. By following these simple rules, you will reduce the effects of abrasion and prolong the life of your designs:

Rule 1 - Use the largest diameter wire you can. Larger diameter wires are more abrasion resistant than smaller ones and stand up to more wear. Use the largest diameter wire that will comfortably pass through the smallest bead hole in your design. If you can pass the wire through the smallest bead hole more than once, you definitely should use a larger diameter wire. This rule is especially true for designs that are subject to increased wear and abuse such as bracelets and watchbands. Be careful to use the largest diameter wire also when stringing glass, metal, semi-precious stone, and other abrasive beads. See Rule 3 for diameter vs. break strength.

Rule 2 - When stringing your designs, allow enough space in between beads so the design can move freely and unrestricted. You can significantly increase the longevity of your designs simply by increasing your spacing. When beads are able to move side-to-side slightly, the contact with the wire is spread over a greater area reducing the effects of abrasion.

Rule 3 - Choose a wire with a breaking strength consistent with the weight and type of beads being used. The heavier the beads, the greater the breaking strength of wire needed. If you are stringing heavy glass, metal, and semi-precious stone beads, be sure to use a wire with a strong enough break strength to support the total weight of the design, plus additional strength to handle occasional snags or pulls. The diameter of the wire is not always a good indicator of the strength; some examples:

      .015" (0.38 mm)
Beadalon® 49    20 lbs.
Beadalon® 19    17 lbs.
Beadalon® 7     15 lbs.
      .024" (0.61 mm)
Beadalon® 49    40 lbs.
Beadalon® 19    48 lbs.
Beadalon® 7     20 lbs.

Rule 4 - Select a grade of wire best suited for your designs; the greater the number of strands, the more flexible the wire. In other words, Beadalon® 49 is the Most Flexible, Beadalon® 19 More Flexible, and Beadalon® 7 Flexible. After you have considered rules 1 through 3, choose the grade of wire that will allow your design to look and feel the way you want.

Rule 5 - Use a Bead Reamer to gently smooth and round out the holes of each bead. Be sure to use the reamer on both sides of the bead hole until they are smooth and free of sharp edges and burrs. The beads should 'slide' on the wire. Beads that slide along the wire cause less abrasion.

Links: Beadalon: http://www.beadalon.com/
Katie Hacker: http://www.katiehacker.com/index.htm
Beadalon 49: http://www.beadalon.com/49StrandStringingWires.asp
Beadalon 19: http://www.beadalon.com/19StrandStringingWires.asp
Beadalon 7: http://www.beadalon.com/7StrandStringingWires.asp
Bead Reamer: http://www.beadalon.com/Reamers.asp