- One 10 foot spool.
- Diameter: 0.46mm (.018").
- Color: Silver Plated
- Length: 10 feet.
- Crimp tube: #2
- Crimp Bead: #1
- Softer than Tiger Tail and more supple for a smoother drape.
- It is abrasion-resistant for longer lasting stringing results.
- For higher-end beads and clasps, we use 49 Strand.
- Made in USA by Beadalon.
- Made of multiple strands of incredibly strong yet fine stainless steel cable that is nylon coated; the higher number of strands in the wire, the more flexible and kink-resistant it is.
- The unique nylon coating provides added kink-resistance and allows light to pass through and reflect off the encased stainless steel wire for a spark of color that makes beaded designs come alive.
- For Austrian crystals, seed beads and fresh water pearls, use .012".
- For medium to heavy glass, metal, ceramic and fiber-optic beads, use .015" to .018".
- Beadalon 49 Strand consists of 49 smaller wires stranded together and nylon-coated for the best flexibility. The preferred wire for professional designers who demand premium strength, softness and flexibility.
Beadalon 49 Strand Silver Plated Beading Wire is composed of stainless steel wire that is plated with Silver, then coated with clear, soft nylon. This gives the finished Wire a beautiful look of Fine Silver, with the same softness and flexibility you expect from Beadalon. 49 Strand Beadalon Wire is by far the most flexible and easy to use Wire available, and it's a great Wire for any Stringing or Jewelry Making project.
Beadalon Fine Silver Plated Wire has the look of Sterling Silver at a much lower price! This very flexible Wire combines the softness Beadalon is known for, with the rich beauty of Sterling Silver. Beadalon Fine Silver Plated Wire is perfect for any Stringing project or jewelry design
Choosing the Right Beading Wire:It's all about flexibility, hole size and break strength.
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 jewelry 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, needs more flexibility: it needs to wrap around the wrist in a small circle; it's likely to get caught on clothing or a corner. Bracelets have to be able to withstand a lot of wear and tear. 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.
So you've chosen a type of wire. Now it's time to consider diameter. Look at the holes on the beads you're using and choose a beading wire that fills as much of the hole as possible. Wires come in a wide variety of diameters, from .010"(.25mm) which would suite seed beads, to .036"(.91mm) for large-hole metal and glass beads. The most popular sizes are .015"(.38mm) and .018"(.46mm), good general-purpose diameters.
Consider the weight of the finished piece. The wire's packaging will list 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. It's also wise to choose a heavy break strength for pieces like bracelets that may snag.
Other things we think about when selecting a jewelry wire include:
How costly are the other materials?
How much wear and tear will the design get? Will it be worn daily? Just once for a special occasion?
For higher-end beads and clasps, we use 49 Strand. The superior flexibility lets those rich beads drape to their best advantage; the superior strength means we don't have to worry about breakage. For a quick, fun piece with more budget-minded materials, we might use 7 or 19 Strand instead. For designs that will be worn often, the flexibility of 49 Strand will help it withstand daily wear and tear.