Post: Post Reply: SoftFlex gets my vote by Luann Udell

Original Message: SoftFlex gets my vote

Softflex is the uber-tigertail, the new, improved version of that old staple. Tigertail is made of 7 strands of wire coated in plastic, and is notorious for kinking, especially with hard wear and heavy beads.
Softflex comes in a couple of different weights and thicknesses, and two stranded versions--21 strand and 49 strand. Yes, plastic coated. Yes, does NOT kink. Yes, very strong. Some versions can be tied, but I've never tried this. Yes, it comes in a wide variety of colors, every color you can think of and a couple dozen more. I've never seen so many choices in just silver.... Yes, there are now multiple choices in "drape" so it can even be used with very light-weight beads.
I secure with crimps (sterling or gold-filled). If I can, I "bury" the crimp in a bead.
Yes, it's more expensive. But the cost per necklace is not very much. I've had crimps give occasionally (usually because I didn't crimp correctly) but NEVER had the cable give.
I think the suggestion about knotted nylon or silk is spot on, too, because the knots cushion the bigger beads and beads with bigger holes. I've stopped using silk because it stretches too much over time, and rough-edged beads can fray it. I personally don't like the "feel" of nylon, but that's just my opinion. It's sturdy, doesn't stretch.
Fishing line....I've never used it for necklaces, it just reads "cheap". In other uses, I've had knots come undone. I don't like "melting" the knots. I've been told that newer versions decay under UV, so it will eventually break down in the wild. That doesn't bode well for necklace designs. Some brands get brittle over time, or discolored.
Cotton cord looks nice but can fade, wear, "rot" with moisture and perspiration. I love waxed linen cord and waxed cotton, but eventually the wax wears away under heavy use, and then the linen or wax cord frays. (Ask me about the first designs I made using linen cord. Then ask me how many times I've restrung them--free of charge--for my faithful customers.)
IMHO, of course.
Copyright 2024
All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users

Original Message: SoftFlex gets my vote
Softflex is the uber-tigertail, the new, improved version of that old staple. Tigertail is made of 7 strands of wire coated in plastic, and is notorious for kinking, especially with hard wear and heavy beads. Softflex comes in a couple of different weights and thicknesses, and two stranded versions--21 strand and 49 strand. Yes, plastic coated. Yes, does NOT kink. Yes, very strong. Some versions can be tied, but I've never tried this. Yes, it comes in a wide variety of colors, every color you can think of and a couple dozen more. I've never seen so many choices in just silver.... Yes, there are now multiple choices in "drape" so it can even be used with very light-weight beads. I secure with crimps (sterling or gold-filled). If I can, I "bury" the crimp in a bead. Yes, it's more expensive. But the cost per necklace is not very much. I've had crimps give occasionally (usually because I didn't crimp correctly) but NEVER had the cable give. I think the suggestion about knotted nylon or silk is spot on, too, because the knots cushion the bigger beads and beads with bigger holes. I've stopped using silk because it stretches too much over time, and rough-edged beads can fray it. I personally don't like the "feel" of nylon, but that's just my opinion. It's sturdy, doesn't stretch. Fishing line....I've never used it for necklaces, it just reads "cheap". In other uses, I've had knots come undone. I don't like "melting" the knots. I've been told that newer versions decay under UV, so it will eventually break down in the wild. That doesn't bode well for necklace designs. Some brands get brittle over time, or discolored. Cotton cord looks nice but can fade, wear, "rot" with moisture and perspiration. I love waxed linen cord and waxed cotton, but eventually the wax wears away under heavy use, and then the linen or wax cord frays. (Ask me about the first designs I made using linen cord. Then ask me how many times I've restrung them--free of charge--for my faithful customers.) IMHO, of course. Copyright 2024 All rights reserved by Bead Collector Network and its users

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