Crimping Beads.

Q: The crimping beads I buy in the craft stores always seem to either break or let the wire loose. I have a crimping tool, and use it as directed. Is there a better brand of crimping bead out there, and if so, how I do I tell?

A: Stick to the French ones. I sell lots of them and have never had any problems. 4 sizes, 2 finishes, starting at 6.50/mass (1200 pcs). Contact me if you would like more information. I like to use the smooth cylinder-type crimp beads, instead of the ones with ridges. The crimp tool is not needed, and I find they are much better in the long run. Less breaks, etc. I had that problem once, too. The best thing I could come up with is to try and make myself NOT squeeze them real fast, and sometimes doing it one half at a time works. At least crimping beads are cheap, and it seems better than making sure you're buying the french ones. I have the problem of the round beads not "crimping" tight enough also. I have heard people say that the tube type work better, but they always look to me as if the rectangle shape they make when crimped would have4 sharp corners. Any comments? And do you just flatten these kind with pliers? I use the crimping tool for the round ones. Does anyone make round ones in precious metals? No, the crimping pliers are designed for the tubes. It has two stations. You crimp the first time in the station closer to your hand, which results in a C-shaped form, and then you move to the station nearer the end and crimp it again into a little round tube. Does that mean the ones I have seen on finished necklaces that looked like flat squares were done w/o the crimping pliers? If so, maybe I'll try those tubes after all - didn't like the thought of those pointy squares. A crimping pliers has two openings to bend the crimp beads two different directions to make them as small as possible. It is a two step process of crimping the bead. You use one opening first and then insert the mashed crimp bead in the second opening for the second squeeze. It's kind of hard to describe in words.

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