Help me I'm confuesed

Can someone out there explain the Accu-Flex mystery...
I got a "Spool" in my FMG package today - and im happy with it - but I dont undrstand ...
Everywhere I read they say things like "49s/40lbs" ....
I got a 49 Strands 0.012 in and its very thin and very soft like thread, but is i the rigth one or the smart one.

Could someone take a few min and explain this to me .... please

49s would be 49 strands.  I think that might be 4 lbs. (approximately 2 kilos) not 40, andwould be the breaking strength -- 4 pounds [#].

Stan B.

ok so logically for more durability and so on i should get a thicker line ?
as far as i figured out they come in 4 sizes ...

Here's a nice review that might be helpful:

http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=ACCUFLEXREVIEW

The diameter that you have (.012) is very thin so it works well for beads with small holes like pearls.  If you are stringing something heavier, you might need .019.  That's what I generally choose as my "all purpose" beading wire.

 The term "49s" refers to strand count.

A) A solid wire is one strand and very stiff.

B) Three strands wound around one another to the same thinckness is a bit less strong but rather less stiff.

C) Six strands wound around a central strand for a total of seven strands is almost as strong and much less stiff

D) A tripple strand in the center with six more tripple-strands wound around that makes for 21 strands, just as strong and so unstiff you may now start calling it limp.

E) Winding six 7-strand groups (like item 'C' above) around a central 7-strand group gives a total of 49 strands ends up just as strong and now so limp going to a higher strand count would be silly.

-------------------

The term "40 pounds" refers to the test strength (not the breaking strength).

A "40 lbs test" wire should reliably suspend a gently settled dead weight of 40 pounds indefinitely. This is not the same as to say it would not break if subjected to a weight of 40 pounds dropped one foot taughtening a line that was formerly slack.

Safety issue: If you are using 40 lbs test wire for a necklace then pray that fastener breaks more easily. Forty pounds pressure on a wire around your neck would not be a good thing if you tripped and it cought on something...or if some unfriendly person gave it a yank. May as well walk around with a garrot for decoration.

-------------------

Just thought I'd chime in on this one. I'm not much into beading but came here looking for input on strong-but-limp stainless steel wire for use in a 10-million cycle fatigue and durability test rig I'm designing.

Gan Uesli Starling
Test Engineer

I think I get it .... I can use the 0.012 for like light projects that dont bare weight or get "tugged" ... butfor a bit heavier and more "tugged" items I get the 0.019 ....

rigth ?

i think no one would wear something as heavy as 4 pounds (or 40 pounds for that matter) on their necks, so you're save :) i think the strength test was for those who might use the wire for other purposes other than stringing/jewelry.

just use the tiny string for beads with small holes and thicker ones for beads with larger holes. i think that would make sense for artistry too. thin wire and big holed/heavy beads don't go along together cos your necklace/bracelet would look fragile/not proportional no matter how strong the wire was. size does matter, i guess.. lol. also bare tiny string with heavy pendant would likely cut into your skin. heavy pendant will strain your neck too..

so i think you don't need to worry about Accuflex wire since it sounds like a heavy duty wire and i'm sure you won't make anything heavier than 1 pound with your stringing. lol.

Also make sure you get the right size crimp for the size stringing wire you are getting. If you get a really thick wire for some projects, you'll need a larger crimp in order to feed the wire back through to secure it.

MonicaP:

Also make sure you get the right size crimp for the size stringing wire you are getting. If you get a really thick wire for some projects, you'll need a larger crimp in order to feed the wire back through to secure it.

Those little bugs(crimps) come in diffrent sizes too ????

(Cry) I live in a backwards country in some ways...

Inca, Monica and others,

The 4lb break or 40lb test weight is a way of measuring the strength of the wire not of the weight of the necklace!

You WANT something to give way rather than stay in one piece in case you get the necklace caught in something - such as a drawer as you start to get up from your desk, an elevator door, a combative patient, child or co-worker. Otherwise, you could find yourself strangled or a serious cut on your neck or throat!

In the US, OSHA standards for several professions (day care, health care, etc.) require lanyards (badge necklaces) to be breakaway. This means using magnetic clasps that DON'T lock, an un-soldered jump ring or other means to keep the wearer from being seriously hurt while wearing it.

This is probably more information than you needed or wanted, but it never hurts to add to your personal knowledge pool!

Deb - AZ Bead Depot

Deb :

Inca, Monica and others,

Funny - Inca is actually short for Monica ... you got me confuesed there before I read the other posts ..

Deb :

You WANT something to give way rather than stay in one piece in case you get the necklace caught in something - such as a drawer as you start to get up from your desk, an elevator door, a combative patient, child or co-worker. Otherwise, you could find yourself strangled or a serious cut on your neck or throat!

So the point is get a necklace that wont break .... but a clasp/lock that will give if needed ?

well ok i can find something to just the "weak wire" on .... and get a new bundle next order ...

Help!  I have been using Beadalon 7 strands or 19 strands, because it's the cheaper wire and I'm only making the necklaces for my adult daughters and myself > > > cause I really really enjoy my new found hobby!  My necklaces are falling apart at the crimp tub. . . after I use my crimp tool, I think it looks good folded over and all, the crimp seems to break away and I loose my beads. . . i've used different crimps some longer some round and smaller, If I flatten them it works better!

Is there something I'm doing wrong? ? ? My local store dosn't have any options on size of crimp!          

Hope you can help!      

Gayle 

Gayle - It's been my experience that the quality of the crimps is quite relevant.  Of course I figured this out the hard way...There seems to be a relationship between cheap in quality and cheap in price when it comes to crimps.  I have found that the name brands are generally better.  If I have a heavier object I've come to add more than one crimp bead a few beads apart to make sure it holds up a little better.  I've seen alot of peices with the crimp flat rather than folded and I don't think it distracts from the peice.  Although, I've started to use crimp covers, because I don't like the look of crimps (that's my little obsession).

K.C.

Agreed.  Even if you have to mail order some, it's worth spending a bit of extra money to get sterling or gold-filled crimps.  They just don't break as often, and you'll get better results.  You do also need to make sure you have the right size crimp for the beading wire you are using.  Micro crimps generally aren't meant to finish the ends of a necklace, for example.  The thicker the wire you are using, the bigger the crimp should be, or you might want to double crimp for extra security.  Hope that helps!

Hello Gayle,

How are the two strands of wire positioned in your finished crimp? They should be totally separated after you have flattened the crimp bead, otherwise it doesn't hold. I always use a regular plier to flatten first, that way I get a good separation of the wires and the crimp bead to hold to itself - this is the part that makes the crimp "work". The folding done with the tool is just for appearance, and necessary only if you want to use a cover bead (at least mine break the unfolded crimp, which is why I bought the crimping pliers).

You could also forget the stringing and change to bead weaving, it's much more fun anyway

Br,

Kirsi