crimping problems with cord and cord substitution

Libby@21 wrote

on Mar 3, 2009 9:46 PM

What synthetic cord is most like cotton thread? I found that the cord is a little stiff. Or am I just being overly aware? I've been making very long strands with seed beads and accuflex and I broke one - or my cat pulled it apart. I've been threading the ends of the piece crossing by eachother through a few inches of bead including two crimps that I placed in the strand a few inches apart from one another, and crimping on either side a few inches apart. I heard that you can tie a figure 8 knot and crimp right on the figure 8 knot. Any suggestions? The crimp actually cut through my wire once! I haven't seen any evidence of this happening to anyone else.

LitaC2 wrote

on Mar 4, 2009 12:41 PM

I wouldn't use anything but coated beading wire - Beadalon, Accuflex, etc., when crimping.  The crimp will certainly cut through a spin material.

Have you considered using silk or cotton thread and knotting when you work with long strands?  The drape is much better and if a strand breaks, there's minimal loss.

Lita

SandyA@16 wrote

on Oct 23, 2009 9:44 PM

 Hi, I agree with LitaC crimps will eventually cut through cotton and /or nylon thread.  Have you tried clam shells?  You can use wire gards with thread too, or french wire, Iuse both depending on the piece.  Hope this helps

Vicki@93 wrote

on Nov 16, 2009 11:27 AM

 I've made a couple lariet style necklaces lately.  On the first one I didn't know better and crimped the end of the nylon thread I used.  I used clamshells over the crimp beads.  I had a little problem with the thread being cut, but not too much.

The second one I tried to knot the thread, even using a knoting tool (like is used to knot pearls) but one knot was not enough to keep the beads from falling off and trying to tie a second knot over the first seemed impossible.  I was doubling up the thread.  Is there something else I should know or be doing differently?  I'm about to start a duplicate to the first necklace (actually had an order for a second one!) and would like to know soon.  Thanks. 

LoisB@23 wrote

on Nov 16, 2009 2:55 PM

 there's an easy solution to making a knot bigger... tie the knot around a seedbead! That's what I used to do when I would use the clamshells. That way you tie the knot, dot it with glue, and the bead makes it big enough NOT to slip back through the hole of the clamshell.

Lois

Vicki@93 wrote

on Nov 17, 2009 10:17 AM

Thanks for the response!

Do you do this with a knotting tool (can't imagine how) or just with a head pin or wire guiding it up against the end of the beading?

Vicki

LoisB@23 wrote

on Nov 17, 2009 10:23 AM

 I don't do either, I litterally tie the knot (just a basic square) AROUND the bead itself. I do use a beading needle to help snug it right down before I do the second cross over for the knot. Does that make sense?

Lois

Vicki@93 wrote

on Nov 17, 2009 2:08 PM

 Yes, that's what I meant by a headpin or piece of wire.

Thanks for the info.  I'll try that with this next project!!

SoftFlexGuy wrote

on Jan 14, 2010 12:09 PM

Rather than crimping a soft cord, you could consider using a gap filling glue if you are concerned about your knot slipping. Simply tie the knot and dab with glue. I suggest Special T glue. It is basically a super glue, but it is non-acidic and will not eat into the material. It also dries pliably instead of hard and crunchy and it dries clear.

Good luck!

Leslie Rogalski wrote

on Jan 15, 2010 8:36 PM

I also tie a surgeons knot, which is like a square knot but the second part you coil the cord a couple times around before pulling snug. Then I dab with glue.