How DO they do that?

I have a question, one that's been bothering me for as long as I've been beading.  When I buy gemstone beads, particularly from Indian vendors, they come strung on multiple strands of thread - sometimes as many as thirty strands. When I take them off of this temporary material, sometimes the holes are so small, I can't get even the finest thread, on the thinnest needle through the hole, so my question is:

HOW IN THE WORLD DO THE MANUFACTURERS GET 30 STRANDS THROUGH?

This is one of the reasons why I stopped buying gemstone beads from India - they look pretty, but are mostly unusable.

Lita

 That's one of those questions that makes me go  "Hmmmm"

I know what you mean, I've had some of those.....I have no clue how they do it.....unless they somehow make the beads on the strands.  I guess that might be possible if the clay up the threads enough and have some cool manner of making them.

Makes one ponder.

 Lita-- AMEN! Haven't a CLUE, but yes, those are beads I can only use my FINEST beadwire with. VERY annoying, so like you, I dont' buy them much anymore.

Lois

Hm, I don't know. Could it be that something is stuck in the hole? But then you only couldn't get through the hole but not the whole hole would be so small. I got beads strung like that, but the holes are big enough to string them again.

 I did a barter exchange for a few of those, "India beads" . Well, only "00" thread and a #15 needle would go thru the tiny little holes.

I like the idea of very thin beading wire

Thanks,

I buy these beads all the time, especially garnets and orange carnelian.  I use .018 beading wire and for the most part, I am able to thread the beads onto the wire no problem.  The only time I was not able to get India beads on .018 wire, was when I bought a strand of tiny black faceted spinel rondelles.  The holes were so small, I couldn't believe the manufacturer was able to string them on the thread, so I totally understand what you are saying.