Supplies for Bead Stringing with Tigertail or Soft-flex
These pages give information and pictures about what materials and supplies you will need
when you are beading. We do not sell any beading supplies, but here's a list of online and offline suppliers. If you just arrived at this page, be sure to check out the full list of beading supplies.
Working with Tigertail Tutorial
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Tigertail and Soft-flex
Tigertail is strong, flexible, nylon-covered wire which is used for
stringing necklaces. It is stiff so it does not require a needle
and it holds its shape. Use with heavier beads and finish with
crimp beads. Tigertail has
a tendency to kink, which the new, more expensive Soft-flex wire
has solved somewhat. Soft-flex incorporates more strands into
it's construction, and is therefore more flexible and less prone
to kinking.
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Crimp Beads
Crimp beads are small metal beads that you squish onto the tigertail to make the beads
stay where you want them.
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Crimping Pliers
Specialized pliers for squishing crimp beads. I
would recommend getting some if you plan to use crimp beads often. They operate in the following manner: you squish the bead once into a U-shape, and then you squish it again so the U becomes a little ball. This looks much neater than using regular pliers.
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Wire Cutters
Diagonal wire cutters should cut flush.
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Bead Board
Used to lay out bead designs before stringing. They are
usually felted to help the beads stay in place, and are
available in a range of sizes.
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