 Now
we are ready to begin stringing beads. For this step your will need
a cutter that is hard enough to cut Soft Flex bead stringing wire, a
hemostat or other clamp, and standard size bead crimping pliers. The
materials required here are four 2x2mm crimp beads in the same metal as
your clasp, 28-30 inches of Soft Flex or Soft Touch bead stringing wire
and the beads.
Step 15: Cut a segment of Soft Flex or Soft Touch 28 to 30 inches long. For the necklace shown in these pictures, size .024 Soft Flex in the silver color was used. It is suggested to use a color of Soft Flex that is close to the color of the wire in the clasp. If your freshwater pearls can accommodate size .024 Soft Flex, use it. Some freshwater pearls will have smaller holes and will not be able to accommodate wire this large. Step 16: Thread about 2 inches of Soft Flex through two 2x2mm crimp beads. (Two crimp beads were used in this necklace. This is sort of like wearing a belt and suspenders. The second crimp bead is not required. It is insurance. For beginners a little insurance may not be a bad idea until you become more comfortable with using crimp beads and bead crimping pliers.)
Step 18: Crimp the closest crimp bead to the catch using your bead crimping pliers and the procedure shown here. If you have an older browser and this animation won't work on your computer view the process for crimping on this web page. Step 19: Now crimp the second crimp bead immediately adjacent to the first. |
Step
17: Thread the 2 inches of Soft Flex through the smaller hole in the
catch wire component, then back through the two 2x2mm crimp beads.
Pull the crimp beads so that they are close to the catch wire component
and pull the Soft Flex so that the loop through the catch wire component
is tight with no slack wire. This may require grasping the Soft Flex
in your bent chain nose pliers to help pulling the wire tight.