ABOUT BEADING WIRE

Beading Wire is one of the essential components for jewelry making. As you can probably guess, there are a number of different kinds of wire types, diameters, pound strength, colours and uses for each of them. In this BLOG, we will examine Basic Beading Wire and detail the differences. You will learn a lot, so please keep reading!

BEADING WIRE

Beading Wire is a stringing material made up of numerous thin steel wires that are woven or wound together. It's often coated with a thin layer of nylon that helps protect the Beading Wire from wear and deterioration and gives it a softer, more supple feel. Nylon coatings can be clear or tinted allowing you to better match your stringing material to the color of your beads or gemstones. Choosing the right Beading Wire for a project can seem overwhelming. Not only are there several Beading Wire manufacturers, but each of their lines is composed of many different types and sizes of wire. Some common types and manufacturers of Beading Wire are Tiger Tail, Beadalon and Soft Flex. Fortunately, once you get a handle on some basic terminology, the process of selecting Beading Wire becomes much easier. Before long, you'll identify a few favorite types and styles that cover all of your beading needs. We’ll begin with a discussion about the measurements of Beading Wire and what they mean.

Beading Wire Diameter: The DIAMETER of Beading Wire is normally given as a fraction of an inch. Logically, larger diameter wire is better for large and heavy beads, and smaller diameter wire is more appropriate for small and lightweight beads. That's because thicker beading wire is stronger than thinner wire, and thinner wire is easier to pass through the small bead holes.

Number of Strands in Beading Wire: Beading Wire is also labeled with the number of strands it contains and is actually a cable. It's made up of multiple strands of steel wire that are braided or woven together. As a rule, the larger the number of strands in beading wire, the more flexible and string-like it feels. The smaller the number of strands, the stiffer and more wire-like it feels.
Flexibility is important for two reasons. First, more flexible beaded jewelry often has a higher-quality feel than stiffer jewelry. Second, less-flexible wire (smaller number of strands) is more prone to kinking -- permanently bending at undesirable angles -- than more-flexible wire (larger number of strands). The trade-off is that wire with more strands is more complicated to manufacture, and therefore more expensive than wire with fewer strands.

Pound Test Strength of Beading Wire: Pound test strength, or "break," is often included on Beading Wire labels. This is the number of pounds a length of beading wire can support before it breaks - at least theoretically. Manufacturers arrive at this number by conducting laboratory weight tests. The higher the pound test strength number, the stronger the beading wire. However, the real "strength" of beading wire, and its general durability, are affected by a number of physical factors, and not solely by the weight of your beads. For example, if you use a bead or finding that has a sharp edge and is subject to lots of movement, that component might eventually wear through any Beading Wire, regardless of pound test strength.

Considerations for Choosing Your Wire

If the items will be frequently worn then a stronger wire with more threads will ensure that the jewelry item has a longer life. Choosing the right wire thickness is determined by the smallest bead hole being used for the jewelry piece. Ideally the wire selected should fill as much of the hole as possible to minimize any movement so that the wire doesn’t rub against the edges of the bead hole and wear unnecessarily. If your jewelry design incorporates lamp work glass beads or semi-precious beads which are quite heavy, it’s recommended to use a wire with more strands which is stronger. Glass and gemstone beads can sometimes have abrasive edges which can rub against the wire and cut through the strands over time, to minimize this wear and tear if there are any abrasive edges it is worth removing them with a small file. Finally try and match the quality of the wire with the jewelry components being used. There is no point using 49 strand wire if the item of jewelry is only going to be worn once or if it’s just a test piece for demonstration. At the same time if the design incorporates expensive stones and findings use a higher quality beading wire as this will help to extend the life of the jewelry, as the wire is often the first thing to fail over time through wear and tear.

Does the Colour of the Beading Wire Matter?

The short answer, in most cases, is No. That being said, if the Beading Wire will show on your finished piece then colour becomes extremely important. For instance, if you choose to crimp beads at spaces along the wire, then you may choose to select a wire colour to match or compliment your bead choices. A colour can really liven up an average, ordinary design and the wire itself can now be used as part of the design. A strand of coloured Beading Wire does not change the colouring of a bead. However, it does add and enhance the colour, particularly with clear and transparent beads. Consider leaving a little coloured wire showing in your design – you might be pleasantly surprised with the results!

SAMPLE BEADING WIRE COLOURS

  We hope that this information helps you with choosing the right Beading Wire for your jewelry projects! In our next BLOG we will explore other types of wire used in jewelry making that will motivate you to create new and innovative designs!