Cheaper alternative

[raspberrybloom]

Hi,

What could I use which is a cheaper alternative to softflex?

Thanks, Lou :-)

[Fran]

Lots of cheaper alternatives around but you lose quality and strength as a result. Having tried them all, Softflex is the only medium that I would ever use. What are you paying for your softflex? there may be a cheaper outlet for it.

[raspberrybloom]

Soft Flex 49 Strand Beading Wire - 30 ft Grey .019 Diameter - £12.40 from Jules Gems.

[Trinity]

Hi Lou

I use Beadalon as well as Softflex and find it to be quite strong.

You can purchase Softflex 49 strand 30ft from www.jillybeads.co.uk for £9.46. The 21 strand is £7.76.

HTH

[raspberrybloom]

Thank you, that will say me a few pennies!

Lou

[Fran]

I order in the 100ft lengths from this ebay seller.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Bead-Orders...Q3amesstQQtZkm
Way more cost effective.

I've been in touch with Softflex themselves but the wholesale discount is more expensive than this ebay seller..................strange but true.

[Bea]

I've got some tigertail which is very similar to Soft Flex and I advertise it as ''very soft'' as it's unbranded, but definitely closer to Soft Flex than tigertail (which can be quite jumpy and kink easily).
They only do 3 colours: grey silver, gold and black. It's 20 meter roll for £7.50. I am using this as an alternative to Soft Flex, especially for classes. I wouldn't use tigertail for classes as I find more difficult to handle than this ''very soft'' wire.

How many meters is 100ft? I never thought of stocking Soft Flex in rolls of 100ft... but I suppose 30ft doesn't go very far....

[Fran]

I've got some tigertail which is very similar to Soft Flex and I advertise it as ''very soft'' as it's unbranded, but definitely closer to Soft Flex than tigertail (which can be quite jumpy and kink easily).
They only do 3 colours: grey silver, gold and black. It's 20 meter roll for £7.50. I am using this as an alternative to Soft Flex, especially for classes. I wouldn't use tigertail for classes as I find more difficult to handle than this ''very soft'' wire.

How many meters is 100ft? I never thought of stocking Soft Flex in rolls of 100ft... but I suppose 30ft doesn't go very far....

100 feet is 30.48 metres. I usually order 2 or more rolls of each .24 .19 & .14 so the 30ft rolls really are not cost effective for the amount I use. you can also get 1000ft rolls but that doesn't come up often! I keep meaning to try the Soft Touch version.

[beadaholic]

Bead stringing

I've got an old school friend who I bumped into a coule of years ago at a craft fair, she's a mad jewellery maker too, she can get beading stuff much cheaper than in some of the shops, I know she's selling on ebay, I buy my stringing stuff direct from her, it might be worth a look, her ebay name is glitzy-chicks, I get my beadalon and softflex direct from her a bit cheaper, it might be worth giving it a try, I can't remember her prices but it's worth a look if you end up saving a few pennies!

[caketopper]

This thread is from April 2006!