Comments on: SoftFlex Trios Beading Wire for Stringing Your Polymer Clay Beads http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/ "Make What You Love... Love What You Make!" Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:54:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Phaedrakat http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-36537 Phaedrakat Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:11:40 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-36537 @<a href="#comment-36529">Kelley Harrington</a>: Hi Kelley, that makes sense, the thin wire <i>would</i> cut through easier than a .19 or .21. It might also make a difference if the wire is extremely taught, expecially in a really short necklace or bracelet. A shorter length creates a smaller circle-shape, which puts the wire at a sharper angle as it enters the bead (even more if it's tight.) That adds extra pressure, making the finer wire try to cut right into the edges of the bead holes. @Kelley Harrington: Hi Kelley, that makes sense, the thin wire would cut through easier than a .19 or .21. It might also make a difference if the wire is extremely taught, expecially in a really short necklace or bracelet. A shorter length creates a smaller circle-shape, which puts the wire at a sharper angle as it enters the bead (even more if it’s tight.) That adds extra pressure, making the finer wire try to cut right into the edges of the bead holes.

]]> By: Kelley Harrington http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-36529 Kelley Harrington Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:55:03 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-36529 Thanks for the tips! I use fimo classic and do bake for at least an hour. I reinforce with sculpey bake & bond too. I will try the medium wire with 49 strand. Mine might just be so thin (it acts like a razor blade) Thanks for the tips! I use fimo classic and do bake for at least an hour. I reinforce with sculpey bake & bond too. I will try the medium wire with 49 strand. Mine might just be so thin (it acts like a razor blade)

]]> By: Sue F http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-36450 Sue F Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:56:43 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-36450 @<a href="#comment-36436">Kelley Harrington</a>: What kind of polymer clay are you using, and how long are you baking it for? It could be that your beads aren't reaching the maximum hardness of your clay, particularly if you're only baking it for the time indicated on the packet. Cindy mostly uses Premo and recommends baking for an hour. I use Kato which bakes at a higher temperature for a shorter time, but I still usually bake my beads at that higher temperature for around 40 minutes depending on size. Also, some brands of clay are stronger or get harder than others. Kato, Premo, Cernit and Fimo Classic are among the stronger clays. If you are using a weak clay like Sculpey 3 that could be part of the problem. For what it's worth, I use SoftTouch medium 0.019 49-strand and haven't had problems with it damaging my polymer clay beads in any real world scenarios. The only time I've had such damage was when I've <i>deliberately</i> been trying to inflict it, e.g. when doing strength testing. With that kind of exercise I feed two separate strands of SoftTouch through the bead hole, form them into loops with handles, and then pull them in opposite directions REALLY hard; like using my foot to hold down the lower loop and pulling up on the top loop with both hands. When I do <i>that</i> I can make the wire cut into my polymer clay beads, but it's totally unrealistic for normally jewellery usage. Or even rough jewellery usage, since I know I'm harder on things than many people! :D @Kelley Harrington: What kind of polymer clay are you using, and how long are you baking it for?

It could be that your beads aren’t reaching the maximum hardness of your clay, particularly if you’re only baking it for the time indicated on the packet. Cindy mostly uses Premo and recommends baking for an hour. I use Kato which bakes at a higher temperature for a shorter time, but I still usually bake my beads at that higher temperature for around 40 minutes depending on size.

Also, some brands of clay are stronger or get harder than others. Kato, Premo, Cernit and Fimo Classic are among the stronger clays. If you are using a weak clay like Sculpey 3 that could be part of the problem.

For what it’s worth, I use SoftTouch medium 0.019 49-strand and haven’t had problems with it damaging my polymer clay beads in any real world scenarios.

The only time I’ve had such damage was when I’ve deliberately been trying to inflict it, e.g. when doing strength testing. With that kind of exercise I feed two separate strands of SoftTouch through the bead hole, form them into loops with handles, and then pull them in opposite directions REALLY hard; like using my foot to hold down the lower loop and pulling up on the top loop with both hands. When I do that I can make the wire cut into my polymer clay beads, but it’s totally unrealistic for normally jewellery usage. Or even rough jewellery usage, since I know I’m harder on things than many people! :D

]]> By: Kelley Harrington http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-36436 Kelley Harrington Fri, 11 Jun 2010 17:41:30 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-36436 Hi- I am making necklaces with fine 0.14 soft flex wire and some of my beads are breaking or tearing by the holes due to the wire. What wire do you recommend for polymer clay beads? Or are my beads too thin? Thanks, Kelley Hi- I am making necklaces with fine 0.14 soft flex wire and some of my beads are breaking or tearing by the holes due to the wire. What wire do you recommend for polymer clay beads? Or are my beads too thin?

Thanks,
Kelley

]]> By: Thomas, The Soft Flex Guy http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-30816 Thomas, The Soft Flex Guy Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:06:35 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-30816 Thanks for the kudos, everybody! We recently introduced some Holiday Trios to make it easy to design for your favorite occasion. Lots of fun holiday themes and colors. Happy Beading! Thanks for the kudos, everybody!

We recently introduced some Holiday Trios to make it easy to design for your favorite occasion. Lots of fun holiday themes and colors.

Happy Beading!

]]> By: Cindy Lietz@Interchangable Pendant http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-27656 Cindy Lietz@Interchangable Pendant Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:21:11 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-27656 Those would be some spoiled fish Melinda if you were to use this lovely wire for fishing! LOL You can use fishing line for beading if you like. This is just a lot prettier if the wire is to show. Plus it has such a wonderful drape to it! Thank you everyone for your great comments! I really appreciate you all. Catalina, you can get the specs on all the different wires that SoftFlex carries by clicking their link in the post above. Thank you Sara for posting about this post on your your blog! That was really sweet of you. I'm glad you liked the review of the Trios. You are the SoftFlex Girl, so that means a lot coming from you! Those would be some spoiled fish Melinda if you were to use this lovely wire for fishing! LOL You can use fishing line for beading if you like. This is just a lot prettier if the wire is to show. Plus it has such a wonderful drape to it!

Thank you everyone for your great comments! I really appreciate you all.

Catalina, you can get the specs on all the different wires that SoftFlex carries by clicking their link in the post above.

Thank you Sara for posting about this post on your your blog! That was really sweet of you. I’m glad you liked the review of the Trios. You are the SoftFlex Girl, so that means a lot coming from you!

]]> By: Melinda http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-27655 Melinda Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:56:00 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-27655 Is it bad that I use fishing line???? ... and all my craft boxes are actually tackle boxes? Gotta admit though... that line is pretty... I wonder if the fish will like it? *wink* I'll have to try it out! Is it bad that I use fishing line???? … and all my craft boxes are actually tackle boxes?

Gotta admit though… that line is pretty… I wonder if the fish will like it? *wink*

I’ll have to try it out!

]]> By: Elizabeth S. http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-27653 Elizabeth S. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:01:18 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-27653 I should have added that I saw it there in all colors. I should have added that I saw it there in all colors.

]]> By: Elizabeth S. http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-27652 Elizabeth S. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:59:36 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-27652 For those itching to try this wire, Hobby Lobby has all beading wire on sale for half price this week. For those itching to try this wire, Hobby Lobby has all beading wire on sale for half price this week.

]]> By: Kim http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/softflex-trios-beading-wire-stringing-polymer-clay-beads/6687/#comment-27647 Kim Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:19:22 +0000 http://www.beadsandbeading.com/blog/?p=6687#comment-27647 I love SoftFlex wire as a general rule. You just can't beat it,IMHO. I love SoftFlex wire as a general rule. You just can’t beat it,IMHO.

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