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Website Contents Copyright K Dean 2002. Website Design
Copyright K Dean 2005 |
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Starting to buy beads, stringing materials and findings can be a
confusing process. It is easy to see the beads that you like, but they all
have technical names and sizes that are seldom explained when you come to buy
them. Bead Flowers hopes these pages will help to remove some of that
confusion, but please
contact us to let us know what else you would like explained, or to offer
information of your own. Types of Beads Seed beads are very short pieces of chopped glass cane that have been
heated until they form smooth, almost round shapes. They come in a variety of
sizes, ranging from size 20 (smallest) to size 7. |
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Lampworked beads are handmade from glass rods which
are melted to form one bead at a time. The hot glass is wrapped around a
coated wire which is removed to form the hole of the bead. These beads come
in a huge variety of shapes sizes and colours and are often highly decorated. Faceted beads are made from glass that has been cut to produce a
faceted surface that sparkles. Bugle beads are made from very narrow glass rod cut
into smaller strips. They come in a variety of lengths. Pearls can be cultured—the true pearl—made from plastic, glass or
freshwater—all faux pearls. Nowadays faux pearls can be bought in a variety
of colours and sizes. |
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Here: About Beads > Beads & Findings |
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Types of Wire Most wire used for basic beading is craft wire—round wire that has
been annealed to allow it to bend without snapping. It is available in a
variety of sizes (see below) and colours. Memory wire is made of tough, permanently coiled
steel. It maintains its shape when worn and is too stiff to cut with normal
wire cutters. Craft Wire Sizes There is more than one system used to describe wire sizes. The most
common are the US Brown and Sharp system and the European system. The US
system is normally written as a gauge measurement eg 18ga or 20ga. The higher
the gauge number, the finer the wire. The European system uses a millimetre
measurement eg 0.2mm, 0.5mm. A rough conversion is shown to the right |
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Stringing Materials Nymo is a waxed nylon thread that is very tough yet fine enough for
stitching any bead size. It survives well in hot or damp conditions and is an
excellent choice for all types of beadwork. Elastic cord is sold by the spool and is excellent for
making stretch bracelets. Hemp cord is the material of choice for macrame. It holds knots well
and resists fraying. Leather cord comes in a range of thicknesses and
colours and is good for stringing large beads and pendants. Tigertail is a nylon covered wire. Recommended for beads with sharp
edges that might break thread or for heavy beads, but bear in mind wire is
stiffer than thread and does not hang as well and it cannot be knotted.
Available in a variety of sizes. Threads like nymo are easier to use when coated with a
thread conditioner Any size needles can be used for beading, but before you start, check
that the threaded needle will fit through your beads at least two times. Findings Lobster Clasps and Bolt Clasps open by means of a small spring and
clip onto jump rings or split rings. They can be attached onto wire or
thread. Barrel Clasps or their small version, called a Torpedo
Clasp, screw together, making them very secure and unlikely to break. Again
they can be attached to thread or wire. Magnetic Clasps are, as the name suggests, magnetic. The strong magnet
holds together and pulls apart with great ease, making them ideal for
bracelets. Fish hook ear wires are for pierced ears and have a
small eye that will bend open to allow the earring body to attach. Screw Back earrings are clip on and come with a small eye that can be
opened to attach the main body of the earring. Jump Rings are circles of wire used for connecting
findings. They have a small break in the circle that allows the ring to be
separated open (always open by bending the ring sideways, not pulling it
apart) Split Rings consist of two layers of wire that create a double layered
jump ring. They are more secure than jump rings. Use by laterally opening one
end of the wire and sliding the finding onto the ring. Spacers are small beads that are used to
literally create space between larger
beads in a design. Spacer bars are used to create space between several strands of beads.
Thread them at regular intervals as you create your design. Head pins are straight pieces of substantial wire used
for stringing beads. The pin has a small perpendicular disc at the end to
stop the beads from falling off. Ideal for making earrings. Eye pins are exactly like head pins, but the perpendicular disc is
replaced by a small loop or eye that will show under the beads. |
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Please read our
Trading Terms before completing your purchase |
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Email:
beadflowers@btinternet.com |
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US Measurement |
US Size (mm) |
European Size (mm) |
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18 |
1.01 |
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0.9 |
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20 |
0.81 |
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0.7 |
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22 |
0.63 |
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24 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
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26 |
0.38 |
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0.315 |
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28 |
0.3 |
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30 |
0.25 |
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0.2 |