How do I keep home made bracelets from breaking?
I like to make bracelets from glass beads and the clear elastic beading material. When I use a fixative to secure the knot, the bracelet seems to break easily where the fixative is. It seems to become brittle. If I simply knot it, it becomes untied. I’d like to keep my creations, and not only wear once or twice. I also would like to know if anyone has any good suggestions for finishing off wired bracelets, as I always seem to finish off in an unattractive manner. Thanks!
There is a flat elastic called gossamar floss. It is strong and you use it with a fine flexable wire steel needle used for jewelry making. If you double the floss it makes the bracelet stronger. You have to take in account that when using glass beads and any elastic it will break soon or later. The weight of the beads causes the elastic to stretch after a period of time. I find that the gossamar floss works the best. You get a little more wear out of the bracelets than other beading elastic.
P.S. Don’t use crimps beads on elastic. You are only cutting through the elastic.
http://www.fusionbeads.com/shop/productchart/900/
http://www.primitiveoriginals.com/gosflosstret.html
As far as finishing off wired bracelets. I am assuming you are using wire like softflex or bead-a-lon.
If so, they sell wire guards. They finish the end of the wire so there is no wire showing when you go through your clasp and back through your crimp bead. Also, if you don’t like your crimp bead to show there is a product called crimp bead covers. If you use a 21 strand or 19 strand wire then you would use the wire guard to fit that wire. Crimp covers they sell the small and large. The small would be the size of a 3mm bead and the large size a 4mm bead. You have to use a crimping tool in order to use these. Also I always use 2×2 crimp beads.
http://www.blisstree.com/jewelryandbeading/beading-wire-guards/
Hope this little bit of info helps.
January 26th, 2010 at 5:56 am
hot glue. melts the elastic together.
References :
January 26th, 2010 at 6:42 am
As you have learned gluing a knot does make it brittle. Using hot glue should work and look nice if you use a very small dab. You could also use a different knot for the elastic. Google up knots and try something different.
You could also crimp a decorative piece to the end of the knot or over the knot to hide and trap it.
References :
January 26th, 2010 at 7:20 am
Hello there,
As for your knots breaking, try using crimp beads. Those are small metal beads designed to be crimped with pliers. An easy and quite alternative to the glued knots.
As for your wire bracelets the crimps will work with live also. I have used them for Tiger Tail. You cannot knot Tiger Tail so a crimp bead is necessary. You might experiment with different styles of fasteners. That would allow you to vary how you finish off the bracelets. You may come across a different style that you like better than what you have been doing.
Later
References :
January 26th, 2010 at 7:53 am
There is a flat elastic called gossamar floss. It is strong and you use it with a fine flexable wire steel needle used for jewelry making. If you double the floss it makes the bracelet stronger. You have to take in account that when using glass beads and any elastic it will break soon or later. The weight of the beads causes the elastic to stretch after a period of time. I find that the gossamar floss works the best. You get a little more wear out of the bracelets than other beading elastic.
P.S. Don’t use crimps beads on elastic. You are only cutting through the elastic.
http://www.google.com
As far as finishing off wired bracelets. I am assuming you are using wire like softflex or bead-a-lon.
If so, they sell wire guards. They finish the end of the wire so there is no wire showing when you go through your clasp and back through your crimp bead. Also, if you don’t like your crimp bead to show there is a product called crimp bead covers. If you use a 21 strand or 19 strand wire then you would use the wire guard to fit that wire. Crimp covers they sell the small and large. The small would be the size of a 3mm bead and the large size a 4mm bead. You have to use a crimping tool in order to use these. Also I always use 2×2 crimp beads.
http://www.google.com
Hope this little bit of info helps.
References :