Detolon nylon multifiliment thread

[J. Larry Railey]

Hello, Everyone,

Does anyone have any information about Detolon? It is not yet available in North America but I got some from my supplier in the Philippines and he buys it for me in China. It is a Japanese polyester filament which is made into thread by a factory in Hong Kong. I was told that it does not break as linen or silk will but that it allows the gems to lie as nicely as linen and silk do. I am also wondering what the purpose of double knotting is? Any information is greatly appreciated.

Respectfully,
Larry

J. Larry Railey
Railey & Associates
jlr@houston.rr.com

 

[Caitlin]

I have never heard of Detolon, but I will try anything for stringing beads. Let me know if it becomes available over here.

The purpose of a double knot is to have a larger knot. It is for looks only. It does not strengthen the thread

 

[boo]

Caitlin-

There is an eBay merchant who is selling some rolls of Detolon if you are still interested in trying it. The seller is charlotte8266 and there are 2 sizes available.The item numbers are 110062629121 and 110062629184. I have no idea if it will live up to the hype, but I am curious to try it ($12.95 per 1000m roll, the seller is limiting folks to 1 roll of each until his larger shipment reaches the US via shipping container)

Deb

 

[Caitlin]

Thanks Deb
I'll try it out!

 

[pattye]

Re: Detolon-
Charlotte and Dad are planning to offer it in various colors and sizes, they are working out plans to be the US supplier, may take a couple of months before they have other colors than white, this is through ebay store Pearl Emporium.
Pattye

 

[J. Larry Railey]

Best stringing material

Best stringing material

What is the best thread to use with good jewelry designed with freshwater pearls, gold and silver beads and gemstones such as turquoise, Swarovski, Amethyst, Tigers Eye etc.? We have been using Detolon, but it has broken several times. I have been told that linen and silk are prone to breaking within a year of regular wearing. Is this true? Can anyone recommend linen and silk that do not break? Is silk better than linen? Can anyone recommend other thread that does not break? What wire is best? We have had breakage with Accuflex clear coated 7-strand sterling silver wire.



Thanks,

Larry
J. Larry Railey
jlr@houston.rr.com

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Larry
I got a spool of Detolon from the Pearl Emporium. It is white or I would have tried it for the klonks. How did it break on you? It seems stronger than silk to me and tangles less. I having been trying it out. So far, so good. It seems far stronger and less stretchy than silk.

 

[boo]

Caitlin

I have been using the Detolon too and I like it except for one thing that is driving me nuts. When I am tightening my loose knot down to its final stages (i.e., just before I pull the thread all the way tight), the Detolon twists up very tightly, much more so than silk does, which makes it hard for me to get the knot right up against the pearl. It is as if the thread has some sort of supertwistiness. Does that description make sense? Does it happen to you? Do you have any suggestions for how to deal with it? Should I just give up on hand knotting (with the Detolon, at least) and finally try to figure out how to use my TriCord Knotter?

Thanks!

Deb

 

[Caitlin]

Hi boo
I had that problem. On a couple of knots one of the two threads was looser than the other, leaving a tiny loop, so I tugged it until it was as tight as the other thread.

I use a simple overhand knot. Holding the knotted pearls in my left hand, I push the unknotted pearl into place, then loop the thread over itself next to the pearls, pass it through the loop and pull it. I can separate the two threads and pull them gently to make the knot slide into place. If you use this method, I don't see how the thread can get kinked, because it never twists.

 

[boo]

Hi, Caitlin

I use your technique but I think I just am not describing it well: pearl pushed up against previous knot, overhand knot which is pulled by its "tail" to decrease the size of the loop part of the knot until the loop part tightens into a relatively loose knot up against the pearl, then snugging up on the strands (by pulling them gently away from each other) to push the knot all the way against the pearl while also tightening the knot. The twist comes in just as the loop gets to its tiniest point (right before transitioning from proto-knot with ever so slightly open loop to true knot). I have never had it happen before with silk or other synthetic thread so I don't think it is my technique. I will presume that Zeide is correct and that there is just some strange overspin to this particular spool of thread.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Boo
I think I had the same problem when the thread left a loop, but i didn't think it was twisted.
Here is an example. I missed this one when I was knotting , but I found i could straighten them out by pulling the longer thread- when I saw them!

 

[J. Larry Railey]

Hi Caitlin,

You ask how the Detolon broke. We have had three breaks, none at the clasps. Don't know why; these were pieces that had been worn only once or twice. We would all be interested in hearing about your experience with Beadalons Dandyline and Power Pro Spectra.

Regards,

JLR/jag
J. Larry Railey

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Larry
I am shocked the Detalon broke! I just got the power pro spectra thread, but the gem show starts today and I am going out, so I may not get to it for a couple of weeks.

 

[Caitlin]

*****
Is this the thread where we talked about Detulon? Oh yeah- I see it up there. Anyway, I liked it at first because it does not stretch, but as another poster pointed out, it does get this most annoying kink right by the knot every now and then.


I went on the hunt and tried several other new-fangled threads. In my opinion, a real winner is any kind of thread made from Spectra, known as Power Pro thread. Beadalon carries some as "bead thread" in various good sizes from 8lb test on up. I have used the 20lb test the most. Doubled that's 40 pounds of yank before it breaks! Marvelous! 25 meters for about $6.50 as bead thread Availble online from Artbeads among others. Free Delivery from Artbeads makes it a good deal.

Then---- And best of all- I found Spectra Power Pro in 300 meter rolls in the fishing line section of my hardware store. $9.99!!! It comes in white and dark.

I have restrung necklaces like a storm since I found this thread. I do not think I will ever use silk again. I bought 2 dozen tiny twisted wire beading needles and double the thread. I need fiskars children's scissors to cut it. Wire cutters and regular scissors do not cut it and neither do sharp-edged gemstone beads, like garnets. Yet it is soft and flexible and knots beautifully.

I am prepared to debate the merits of this thread and to convert as many beaders as possible to it.

This stuff hasn't kinked or tangled up yet. I waxed it at first, but don't bother now.

As some people here know, I use the 2 thread method. I am able to tie my knots and pull them tight with the Power Pro, even if the knot lands up the thread a little. I have given up my awl for knotting. Don't need it for moving the knot and/or mistakes any more.

I urge all knotters to try this and report back.

 

[knotty panda]

Boo was kind enough to send me some Detolon samples a few months ago which I neglectfully didn't try until this week. It's really great stuff! The best thing about it is it doesn't burn when you cauterize it. It doesn't drape like silk but it knots better than any other synthetic thread I've used. All in all I'd give it a two thumbs up!

 

[Sueki]

Hello Caitlin,
I think these are the same needles - hard to tell from the picture.
http://www.craftland.net/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=7367

I've not bought from this site. I buy mine from a U.K. supplier, but, so far, have only been able to get hold of the 5 inch length.
And thanks for the great post, Cathy.

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Sueki
Thanks. I found the mediums before, but I prefer the fine. I'll try them.

 

[Caitlin]

Hello Caitlin,
I think these are the same needles - hard to tell from the picture.
http://www.craftland.net/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=7367

I tried out craftland today and liked the needles. I had to buy a 50 pack for $26.00 and $5.00 shipping.

After I bought the needles I looked around their store. Their major categories are beads, findings, Beadalon, sterling silver, tools and supplies and stringing materials.

I found dandyline for less than $4.00 a spool. (My favorite stringing thread)

They have every kind of stringing material I have ever used and way more kinds than that.

I looked through the Gudebrod filament silk threads.
They had every size you could ever want. Then you pick a size and go to the selection in that size. I picked size E. They had spools ($10.75)of white and eight other colors and 25 meter cards($4.45) in 6 colors. The prices go down as quantity goes up. (Fire Mountain has a slightly better price 11c less on the cards $1 on the spools)

I checked out findings.
I went to magnetic clasps looking for the extremely strong magnetic clasps I like. They have edges that lock so no direct pull will open it. You have to break it open which is an action that can't happen accidently while you are wearing them. They are my favorite "old lady" clasps!.

The trouble is my favorite suppliers like artbeads and Fire Mountain don't have them or they cost $15.00 each. Same one at Craftland was $8.40. Wait a minute, I just checked and FM is up to $17.00 and change. When you buy in bulk the price only goes doen to $11.00.

I am going to make this my first stop the next time I need stringing supplies.

About that point I thought I'd come back here and report. They ship worldwide.

 

[knotty panda]

Caitlin: You should try Monsterslayer.com for magnetic clasps. http://www.monsterslayer.com/Pages/SSClasps_MagCrimp/SSClasps_MagCrimp.aspx Better quality at a lower price.

 

[Caitlin]

Caitlin: You should try Monsterslayer.com for magnetic clasps. http://www.monsterslayer.com/Pages/S..._MagCrimp.aspx Better quality at a lower price

I went there and they only have the kind of magnetic clasps that pull apart if they get caught. The kind I like locks against itself. No amount of tug will pull it apart. The only way to open it is to break it open.

There is no comparison. I have had so many problems with the simple pull apart ones I will no longer use them. If you look caarefully at the first illustration I put up you can see the little rim next to the magnet. There is one on each side and they prevent the clasp from pulling apart no matter what you catch it on.