french/gimp wire

[gbell]

I use beadalon .07 french wire to finish off things with tigertail, I could really do with a wider one to get two strands through, is there such a thing about?

Also i have crimping pliers but I cannot for the life of me make the crimp tubes look like a bead! can anyone give me any tips?

[kymbi]

I don't tend to use bought gimp, but you could make your own if you can't get a thicker gauge ~ just find a piece of stiff wire (headpin?) the diameter you need to get the tigertail through, then wind very fine SP wire round it to form a coil. Slip it off and onto your tigertail...

Can't help you with the crimping pliers ~ I've binned mine as I could never form the lovely (and neat) bead they promised...managed to get it round but it always looked like a dog's breakfast.

[gbell]

oo never thought of doing my own

what a great idea -thanks!

[jencel]

I've just done a page on my website for how to use the magical crimp pliers. http://www.jencel.co.uk/beads/magicalcrimp.php It took a bit of practice, but I think the trick is to make sure the crimp is sitting centrally in the little notch in the pliers, so that you don't get sharp edges.



Celia

[gbell]

ah well my crimping pliers dont look like that!

[jencel]

Are you using the ordinary crimping pliers, with two notches? They flatten and then fold the crimp, whereas the magical ones gradaully turn the crimp into a bead, but you need 2 x 2mm sterling crimp tubes, and .019 beading wire. There's another ste of magical pliers for thinner diameter wire. So far, I've only got the pliers for .019 wire.