Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

dtpforu — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:08:22 GMT

Does anyone know where I can find 6" plastic tubes? Empty ones. I have a ton of seed beads that I would love to put in the tubes. Also, Jennifer, where did you get the stand up display in your picture. I would love to get one of those!

Thanks,

Vickie

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Nancy Walters — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:35:04 GMT

Actually I like mine in 2x2" plastic bags. I had a bead store for 10 years and this was the best solution I came up with. I always hated tubes for the reasons you mentioned and boxes weren't available then. Bags are easier to fill you can open them and set them on your work serface and nothing comes out. I did not have wall or other space to display japanese seed beads so I kept them in plastic boxes with compartments labeled as to color and type. You can learn to open these bags with one hand and they last along time before the bags split, about 20 years depending on the wear and tear.

I admit walking into a store with a wall of tubes or boxes is a real visual delight, but I'm not going to change my own seed beads over to boxes, besides as a former owner of a bead store I have lots of 2x2 bags!

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

brandyw123 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:24:29 GMT

We are all used to the tubes as we started with them. If the lids do not open easily on the boxes, then it is easier for us. (my yorkie loves when the tubes open, as it eats the beads) A friend gave me a bead storage, 3 section stand, that works for the boxes.

Another advantage of the box, is that they come in 2 sizes. The smaller ones are great for 15', delicas, etc. I also started putting my finding in the boxes as well.

Happy Beading to All.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

BeadEnCounter — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:28:09 GMT

I settled on flip-top boxes early on, and I'm glad I did. I wrote a blog post about my storage system a while ago, with sources for all the stuff I use.

beadencounter.blogspot.com/.../philosophy-of-bead-organization-again.html

and this one:

beadencounter.blogspot.com/.../making-shapes-and-organizing-again.html

The IRIS project boxes store about 60 large fliptops or many more small ones in one layer, so I can see everything of a single size at a glance. I just bought more project boxes so I have more space and separated out bugles and drops from triangles, cubes and other oddities.

Then I use my software for labeling everything so I know what it is and how much it cost.

Lynn Allen

http://www.beadencounter.com

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

rrobboy — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 20:49:29 GMT

I am just wild about the flip top boxes. I love that they don't roll, that you can open them with one hand., that you can see the beads so clearly, and that they come in a variety of sizes. I also love the little clear plastic 4"x6" storage boxes I bought to organize them in. The storage boxes come empty or filled with various sizes of flip top boxes. I bought dozens of them because I also use them to organize other small supplies, like hanks of beads, large beads that wont fit in a flip top box, stitch samples I've made, findings and much more. I also used these as project boxes to keep all the beads and other materials for a jewelry project together. These storage boxes and flip tops help me store my beads by type, ie and color so I can find things easily. And best of all, these 4"x6" boxes fit perfectly in IKEA's Benno CD/DVD tower, so I can see all my beads at once. This makes it so easy to pull together the beads I need for a project! To design a project, I can just arrange various flip top boxes until I see something I like. I may need a second CD tower and more boxes soon.... (my boxes came from fusion beads)

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

az-bobbie — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:27:44 GMT

I prefer the rectangular boxes. I buy a storage box of them (25-40 sm boxes) of 5 different sizes @ 40% off. (Local beading store has a 40% off 1 item/wk coupon. I place an "erasable" label (office stores - est. $8) on each sm box, listing source, color, size, J or CZ, cost per weight (2.80/10gm). The storage box is labeled by color and size, J or CZ, type (delica, hex, seed bead, etc.).

The different sizes of sm boxes allow me to store the maximum nbr of beads in the smallest space. If there are too many of a particular bead to fit the box, I hang the extras in a small plastic bag on a nail in a non-prime storage spot.

I do buy round tubes of beads but not empty tubes. They fit perfectly in the storage boxes along with the sm boxes.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Pamela925 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:39:15 GMT

Last year my husband received a very large pill box as a gag gift. You know the ones with one box for each day in one strip. That is what I have been using to store my beads since they arrive in plastic bags. I have about 6 of those giant pill boxes and I love them. I found them at our local dollar store for $1 each.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Bristol — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:04:12 GMT

I really don't care if the beads come in boxes or tubes. Just as long as they stay closed when I want them too.

I have most things set up for the tubes but I have found, in my old age, that I can actually be very flexable.

I have saved all of my old spice bottles and use them as well. They have screw tops on them and make them very nice for storing large quanities of seed beads.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Sophie24 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:15:38 GMT

I prefer to keep my seed beads in the original container I got them in, then organize them in large Ziplocs by size. I like knowing what shop I bought them from and remembering where/when I bought certain ones. And I'm too lazy to relabel them if I did put them in a different container. I have a few lids, both round and rectangular, that want to come off, so they're segregated for the moment until I decide what to do with them.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

tomsgal29 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:36:52 GMT

I just started beading and the vast majority of my seed beads come in tubes. I like tubes but agree the tops fall off easily.

I would like to hear from everyone how they store their tubes or boxes. I started with just a simple plastic organizer (like the ones used for cross stitch). However I'm quickly outgrowing this storage method.

So - How do you store your tubes or boxes??

Hope C.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Barbara Bellatti — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:48:29 GMT

I like the tubes mainly, but if I am travleing, I will pour some of the beads into a box. They are less likey to spill, and easy to label with a piece of scotch tape to write on.

When I am done, I pour the leftovers back into the tubes and take the tape off.

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Beadwildered — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:45:03 GMT

Rather odd one for me--I clean and re-use my MANY prescription bottles for the hanks I buy. I apply a label with what, where etc on it and works great since they look. Down side is they aren't clear. I have the Dollar Store ones as someone else mentioned. Those are good as well. When I make my own little mixes, I like to use those especially. I also HAVE plenty of tubes which I store upright in round vases where I can grab them...those are stored by size at my workbench. Not as thrilled with the boxes also...haven't found best way to store those yet. I do use my clear plastic boxes with compartments for other supplies, lampworks,silver,gold,SO many things getting there own box! Those are also labelled or I just might forget where I put a treasure later on! :)

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Claire@55 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:15:23 GMT

I agree entirely with aliciaH. I love the boxes best of all. But I dont like having to re-label so as they arrive mostly in tubes they stay in the tubes. Sometimes when I have just over one tubeful left I with decant them all into a larger container that fits them all!

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

PLD2 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 11:07:02 GMT

Actually I love the small round storage "disks" with twist tops. They comehave in overed boxes that hold 24 of them. Each of my boxes hold one color, sorted by hues and it is as easy as pie to find what I am looking for. (Small FYI LOL -I always wait for 50%you off coupons to buy them at bargain prices).

re: Seed Bead Storage: Bead Tubes or Bead Boxes?

Chickie1983 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:10:05 GMT

My main problem with the flip top boxes is that when you come to put surplus beads back into them at the end of a session, they just won't go in. With a tube you can just tip the beads back in from the palm of your hand without a problem. I also find that if the flip top is too stiff it pulls the whole top of the box out when you try to open it. It's tubes and little grip seal bags all the way for me.