What does crimp beads look like?

Crimp beads are shaped like a hollow round bead and come in a variety of sizes and metals. To secure them to jewelry wire, flatten the crimp bead with a pair of flat or chain nose pliers. The flattened bead grips the jewelry wire.

What is the difference between crimp beads and crimp tubes?

Tubes may do a better job of gripping beading wire because they tend to have a larger interior surface area. Crimp tubes also allow you to use crimping pliers which make your crimps look less like tubes and more like beads that are part of your design. Crimp beads, however, are often more economical than tubes.

How do you know what size crimp bead to use?

You want your crimp to succeed so choose the right size but also the thickest metal possible. Generally speaking, a 1mm OD crimp tube of any length is great for use with finer strands of beading wire (. 007 to . 014), 2mm OD crimps are ideal for .

Why won’t my crimp beads hold?

This is either a result of using a diameter of wire that is too small or stringing your beads too tightly. First, check to make sure that you’re using the largest diameter of wire that will pass comfortably through the beads.

Can you use crimp beads on stretch magic?

Don’t Use Crimp Beads With Elastic Stretch Cord You can add an extra half knot on top of the surgeon’s knot just in case. Never use crimp beads with elastic. Some people try this, but it never lasts long because metal cuts elastic, and there’s no changing that. A correctly tied knot will last better in the long run.

What are the best crimp beads to use?

Generally speaking, a 1mm OD crimp tube of any length is great for use with finer strands of beading wire (. 007 to . 014), 2mm OD crimps are ideal for . 019 and the 3mm OD crimps for the heavier .

Why do my crimp beads break?

Breakage is typically caused by abrasion on the wire. The kinds of beads you’re can be sharp on the inside and can cut through the wire over time.

Can you use crimp beads on fishing line?

If you wanted to make a bracelet that you could slip over your wrist without having to use a clasp, this stretch material might be the best choice. Like fishing line, you can also use crimping beads with this to finish a piece off.

How do you keep beads from falling off wires?

Just wrap a piece of tape to the point on your thread where you’d like to start your beadwork. No beads will slip off while you begin, and you can slide the tape off the end of the thread when you’re sure everything’s in place. These little coiled gizmos are great for holding beads in place on stringing wire.

What do you need to know about crimp beads?

Learn more… Crimp beads help secure a loop on a piece of jewelry so that the finished piece can be attached to other components of jewelry. If you’re making your own beaded jewelry, you’ll probably need to crimp the wire on both ends to make sure the beads don’t fall off.

How do you attach wire to crimp beads?

To secure one end of the wire so that your beads don’t fall off, you’ll need some sort of an end piece, such as a clasp. When you are ready to attach a clasp, first thread the end of your beading wire (jewelry cable) through a crimp bead and then through the eye of the clasp.

How big of a bead do I need for one strand of wire?

For example, if you are using one 0.020” (0.51 mm) piece of wire, you will need a bead with a diameter of 0.04” (1.02 mm). But, if you are using two strands of wire, you will need a bead with a diameter of 0.08”.

What’s the best way to flatten a bead?

Flatten the bead. Use crimping pliers to flatten the bead. Squeeze the beads with the flatter back channel of the crimping pliers that is closest to the handle. Gently but firmly squeeze the pliers closed.