by Dwyn Tomlinson
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Crimp beads are a secure and convenient way to attach a clasp. Use a crimp bead to attach a clasp to the various multi-strand beading cables that are available for making jewelry, such as SoftFlex, Acculon, or Accuflex. Crimp beads come in different sizes. Smaller beads are more appropriate for lighter cable. Crimp beads are available in sterling and gold-filled, and in base metals. They can be rounded, or tube shaped. Recently, a new style of crimp bead has become available - called a Tornado crimp. These have a twisted texture, and do not require the specialized crimp pliers to secure them. |
| 1. Thread the bead wire through the crimp tube, add the clasp, and thread back through the crimp tube | |
2. snug the cable up tight | |
| 3. Use the second hole in the crimp pliers to squash the crimp tube . Try and ensure that the groove separates the two parts of the cable. |  |
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| 4. Then, turn the crimp tube on its side and use the other set of holes in the crimping pliers to fold the crimp tube the groove you made in the last step. |  |
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| If you don't have crimp pliers: Use chainnose pliers to firmly squash the crimp bead. Then, using roundnose pliers, turn the pliers to lengthwise (with the cable,) and squash an indent between the two pieces of cable. Squash hard. | ||
Copyright 2005 Dwyn Tomlinson, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission by the Beading Times.