Threads & wires

Beading wire is the strongest threading option available, you will have considerable difficulty breaking any of the products in this category. It consists of a core of intertwined strands of steel coated in nylon. The thickest thread is the strongest but also tends to have the disadvantage of being the least flexible. The art is to match the flexibility required to your work and budget. Don't forget your crimp beads, most of this range isn't happy when knotted.

View our fantastic range of Beading wire >>

View our fantastic range of Elastic & elasticity >>

Cords in a terrific range of colours which have so many uses in jewellery making and other crafts.

View our fantastic range of Leather thong & cotton thong >>

Not just for the loom, these reels are available in some beautiful colours and are suitable for all kinds of beadwork.

View our fantastic range of Loom thread >>

Memory wire is simple but effective. It is designed to keep its shape. If necessary cut with memory wire cutters (it will seriously blunt other cutters). Bend loops at each end to keep your beads from sliding around and slipping off.

View our fantastic range of Memory wire >>

Clear and simple to use; thread it, knot it, crimp it!

View our fantastic range of Nylon >>

View our fantastic range of Threads & wires misc >>

Whether you're creating a tiara or propping up cut flowers, we've got the wire for you!

View our fantastic range of Wire - metal based >>

Frequently asked questions about the collection: threads & wires

Q: Do you have any square and D-shaped wire? I'm looking for some to do wire wrapping work with (I've used German style Beadalon wire before for this) and was wondering if you have any.
A: I'm afraid we don't offer any different shaped wire, just the regular round wire. I have seen it for sale on other sites but only in precious metal versions.

Q: Do you stock nymo, or an alternative, please?
A: Yes we do stock Nymo thread in many colour options please follow the link: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Nymo-D/bo4205

Q: Do you stock velvet tubing? If not it would be great! Lovely finish to elasticated bracelets!
A: No we don't currently sell this but it's something I'll get our buyer to look into.

Q: Hi - I'm interested in a bracelet project where the designer states you need to use Beadalon 49 strand, .018" diam stringing wire. Do you stock this? Many thanks.
A: No I'm afraid we don't stock above 19 strand www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Beadalon-19-strand-bright/bo4177 as this is strong enough for most jewellery making. Since the strands of steel within the wire are so thin the difference in thickness between 19 strand and 49 must be negligible as 19 strand is also 0.18'' diam. If you used this wire in your design it should have the same effect (unless you're trying to make a suspension bridge or something!).

Q: Hi again, I make floating necklaces using Monofilament and was wondering if you would be stocking this? Also, as with other threads, do you recommend different thicknesses for bead weight? I also am a little frightened that the crimps might cut the thread & wondered what your thoughts are on this. Thanks.
A: We do have two thicknesses of nylon www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/nylon/c432 which can be used for floating necklaces. I'd use the thick nylon for beads over 6mm, or heavier beads. Crimps can have sharp edges, if you're worried about crimps damaging the thread over time then try using crimping pliers www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Crimping-pliers/bo1031 to fold the crimps over on themselves neatly, or you can try using glue for lightweight beads, a blob of epoxy under the bead should keep it in place on the nylon producing a delicate floating effect.

Q: Hi I've been making glass beaded stringed necklaces with a no-stretch nylon thread (from a local shop, brand is Beadsmith) using calouches and a seed bead with a 3 knots to secure the ends, but I'm finding this is not strong enough and several times the string has released. It is not robust enough. Please can you advise what material/technique I should use for a really strong result. Thanks.
A: Do you mean calottes www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Calotte/bo4024? Nylon is a very sheer thread, could it be that your knots are slipping apart over time? You say the string has released rather than snapped so this could be what's going on. Have a go at sealing the knots using superglue. Just a dab on top of the knot cluster should seal them together and prevent slippage. If the problem is the strength of the thread then it may be time to try beading wire and crimps.

Q: Hi there, I have a small glass candle range that I would like to add a little beading/small charm. The wire will go around the middle of the glass so has to be sturdy enough to hold the beads and charm but flexible enough to twist and fasten off to keep the beads and charm in place. Can you suggest the type of wire I would need for this please? thank you
A: Any of these plated metal based wires www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/wire-metal-based/c312 would be ideal, probably around 0.5mm or 0.6mm. These wires are easy to manipulate with your fingers, or pliers and should hold their shape. You'll need some cutters to cut them and some round nosed pliers to twist them, you could use household pliers to experiment.

Q: hi, i'd like to try knitting with wire, i was wondering what type of wire would be sturdy enough to be twisted lots and holds the beads it requires.
A: The 0.4mm and 0.6mm wires would be suitable and they are strong enough to hold their shape. You can see the 0.4mm wires here: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/home/search.php?searchfor=0.4 and the 0.6mm wires here: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/home/search.php?searchfor=0.6 we have a wider range of colours in the 0.6mm

Q: Hi, I'm looking for soft gauge, tarnish free wire (silver and gold plated or filled) for making wire jewelry - the type that can be wrapped and hammered gently - I'm using an american pattern that calls for 20, 19 and 26 soft gauge wire. thanks
A: I have seen some 'tarnish resistant' wire for sale on other sites but I'm afraid none of our metal based wires are particularly resistant to tarnish. You basically want something like these: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/wire-metal-based/c435 they can be twisted, wrapped, coiled and hammered into all sorts of shapes. As far as American gauges go: 20 is 0.36mm, 19 is 0.4mm and 26 is 1.8mm.

Q: Hi. I am making keyrings and will be using beads of different sizes some will have 3mm holes and others will have beads of 1mm - what thread or wire would you recommend for each size bead and also strength is important. Thanks
A: Our cotton and leather thong comes in 1mm, 1.5mm, or 2mm thickness and any of these should fit the beads with a hole size of 3mm. The other beads that only have a hole size of 1mm would be a bit tight to thread on to any of these thongs because the thinnest one is the same size as the hole. For the 1mm hole beading wire might be better, as it is thinner. You will probably want to use the 7 or 19 strand wire, because the 3 strand is not as durable - www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/beading-wire/c434

Q: I am making wrap bracelets using 1.5mm leather thong and 5mm Swarovski peals but which is the best thread to attach them to the leather? I need a good choice of colours and nymo splits when I cross over.
A: You could try our Superlon as this has the feel of nymo thread but is even stronger and won't stretch like nymo. It also comes in lots of great colours www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Super-lon-D/bo4206. I would also recommend our silk thread www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Silk-thread-thin/bo4209 if you want something thicker and stronger.

Q: I have a beadloom and want to make Native American headbands. I've worked out 8/0 rocailles are the best beads to use, what kind of thread would you recommend?
A: I would recommend our Nymo thread which comes on a reel of 55m. It is available in lots of colours is very strong and almost stretch free www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Nymo-D/bo4205.

Q: I have noticed that the threading holes in some glass beads I had put on beadalon wire have been worn away by the wire, so that the holes have got bigger. Did I use the wrong type of wire? How do I stop this happening in the future?
A: Beadalon wire shouldn't wear away at glass, it could be that the wire has just worked away some of the lining of the bead. Glass beads are mostly made on metal rods that have a clay coating, some of this coating invariably ends up lining the hole of the bead and it could be the absence of this that is making the holes look bigger. To be honest it really depends on the type of glass beads you use, they shouldn't behave like this at all.

Q: I was wondering if you did fireline? or what is your equivalant as was watching a instructional video and they were using fireline.
A: We don't sell fireline but we do sell an alternative which is Wildfire www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Wildfire/bo4219. This is a great bead weaving thread which is thermally bonded, has near zero stretch, won't fray and is very strong with a test strength of 10Ib.

Q: I would like to make a "string" necklace for my sun glasses, do you have all the products.
A: To make a beaded chain for your glasses we have spectacle endswww.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Spectacle-end/bo869 or www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Spectacle-end/bo870. You attach these by threading on the ends of your glasses and moving the band in the middle of the spectacle end until it has a tight grip. Also the spectacle end are made out of rubber so they won't damaged your glasses. To string the beads I would recommended using beading wire www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/beading-wire/c434. You can attach the wire to your spectacle ends by adding a crimp bead www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Crimp/bo4025 to the end of the wire and threading the wire through the spectacle end to make a loop. Next you will need to thread the end of the wire back through the crimp and squash with a pair of flat half round pliers or crimping pliers to hold www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/jewellery-tools-pliers/c412.

Q: I'm new to beading and I'm struggling with needles, and 1mm rattail, for standard adventuring beads, I've got flexible beading needles and size 10/13 needles but I can't thread the 10/13 as needle hole too small, and the thread just doesn't work with the flexible needles, please help and offer suggests.
A: The needles we have are really only used for very fine beading thread. You might like to try using an eyepin as a needle as this has a larger eye to thread through. To allow it to fit through the hole in your beads you could try squeezing the eye flat with a pair of pliers. Or if you would like to make the holes larger you could try using a bead reamer.

Q: I've been using Beadalon 7 string 0.18" satin silver but, as you say, this isn't particularly easy to knot. Is there an equally strong product that is easier to knot? I'm making tassel dangles that can be clipped to handbags, etc.
A: The wire that holds the best knot is our thin Soft flex which is also very durable www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Soft-Flex-fine/bo4179. I would also recommend trying our wild fire thread as it is very strong and easily knotted www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Wildfire/bo4219. The best technique is still to use crimps www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Crimp/bo4025 to secure the ends of your piece and you can combine these with crimp covers www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Crimp-cover-3mm/bo4042 for a neater finish.

Q: Thank you for your response to my question about the keyrings. I have also seen that you do waxed cord would you recommend this for the beaded keyrings that I am making or is the cotton thong stronger?
A: They're very similar products in fact but from different manufacturers. Both are woven, coated cotton so should have a fairly equal strength in the 1mm size. The cotton thong tends to soften in use which many customers prefer if making necklaces etc.as it becomes more comfortable to wear, not an issue with keyrings though of course!

Q: What sort of thread can i use for the kumihimo disc?
A: You can use Leather, Cotton cord, silk and even beading wire, it really just depends on the thickness and the end result you want to achieve.

Q: what would you use for floating necklaces please ?
A: Depending on the size and weight of the I would either use nylon and glue, or beading wire. For a necklace of really small (4-6mm) lightweight crystals you could use nylon thread www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Nylon-thick/bo4166 and glue www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Epoxy-two-part-glue/bo1018 if you space the beads out then blob a little glue onto the nylon and slide the bead over the glue and leave it to set you will have a very delicate strand of beads that looks like it's floating on air. If you have heavier beads then try beading wire www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/beading-wire/c434 and a crimp bead www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Crimp/bo4025 squashed flat on either side of the bead.

Q: which is the best wire/thread to use with semi precious stones/beads please?
A: Try the Beadalon 7 strand www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/Beadalon-7-strand-bright/bo4189 it' a great all-rounder, strong, light and it drapes well around the neck or wrist.

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