Soft Flex wire question

stephanielysik · #1 2005-08-20, 7:37am

has anyone else had trouble with softflex wire breaking? I am weary of selling jewelry anymore because I have found that after several months of wearing my favorite bracelets, the softflex frays and snaps. Ive checked my bead holes and bought the heaviest weight of wire...they still break eventually. Is there something Im overlooking? Does anyone out there know of a better product for stringing lampwork???

Stephanie

Penguintrax · #2 2005-08-20, 8:06am

What version of SoftFlex are you using? The fewer the strands, the more quickly it will become brittle as the wires work-harden.

Personally, I use 49 strand Softtouch .019 for just about everything.

The other thing you can do is 'stuff' the holes of the lampwork with tiny seed beads and run the beading wire through that. It serves 2 purposes - it protects the wire and the beads sit more balanced on the wire.

stephanielysik · #3 2005-08-20, 8:14am

Is SoftTouch made by SoftFlex?

I use the 49 strand...medium (.019) and heavy weights depending on what I am making. Im wondering if the lighter wire is more flexible and less prone to breakage???

I'll give the seed beads a try!

Thanks,
Stephanie

DawnT · #4 2005-08-20, 9:01am

Where did your bracelet break? I also use 3mm round spacer beads on either side of my crimp tube to keep it from rubbing against the wire. I use the fine .014 for everything and have never had a problem with it breaking BUT I have just recently started adding my lampwork to it so now maybe I'll have to think about going heavier.

stephanielysik · #5 2005-08-20, 9:15am

they generally break at the edge of a bead...the plastic coating rubs off from the friction and then the wires break. THis happens no matter how puckered the holes are. I do wear my jewelry around the clock...but I cant be alone there!

Im thinking that in order to ensure durability, I may just use silver wire to link my beads together. It will definately be a different look!

THanks for all your input...keep it coming!!!

Stephanie

Silver Mist Studios · #6 2005-08-20, 9:40am

Well I have run into this a lot with Beadalon which made me switch. I tested the Soft Touch and Accuflex for a while to determine which I thought was better.
I ended up with the Accuflex. I use the 49, 7 by 7 .019. on nearly everything. I picked it because the price was TONS better, even after the SoftFlex wholesale discount the accuflex was still better... and it seemed softer and easier to crimp. Which for me is really important cause my hands are very weak due to my disease.
I didn't care for the thick coating on the soft touch cause it seemed like once broken, the wire would be a goner. Some of them I tried too seemed too ridgid like very little abrasion would cause them to wear and tear easier.

Now I can't say you wouldn't have the same problem with Accuflex, I however have yet to have one break using it.