Make your own needles

[kojimapearl]

Caitlin, Yes please move this silly thread talk to it's proper place.
Here is a photo of the wire doubled around the thread, and the second piece is just gently twisted to prevent it from slipping off.

 

[Caitlin]

Thanks! I get all exited when someone shares techniques with the forum and this one is a beaut!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi Inge
Do you have a link to your wire needles?

 

[knotty panda]

I sure did miss that little tidbit too, Inge. Are they flexible like the aluminum ones?

 

[pattye]

The "Hardwire Store Guy" of course didn't know what I was talking about, and I wound up with 28 gauge solid brass wire. Minimum break strength is 6 lb. Do you think this will work as good as copper, and do you know what gauge copper wire you use? I felt bad as he was really trying to help!! This was $4 for 75 feet on a little roll. Oops, just looked at the sales slip, it was 2.99.

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

 

[knotty panda]

So many questions! I can't wait to hear how it goes for you. You can't beat the price. I like the chisel point of the ready-made needles and I imagine if the wires aren't twisted tightly, they might prick the thread, especially when back-knotting at the end of strand.

On another topic, how did your center-drilled keishi go? Did I miss how that turned out? I think a ring with two or three stacked on top of each other would make a gorgeous coordinating piece.

 

[pattye]

I am "itchin'" to get back to projects--haven't made anything lately, not with the keishi either, but keep playing with them, have had some home projects to deal with before I can have more pearly fun, also want to make a couple of items for Terry at The Pearl Outlet to look at and see if they would work for his online store-----that ring idea sounds very interesting----

Even if I am not making something, the pearls are where they can be "observed"------

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

 

[Nerida]

Pattye you make me laugh - I am surrounded by pearls on my desk ATM - made a couple of pairs of simple earrings this morning, but amd theoretically doing a stocktake but all I do is play with them instead!!

 

[Bodecia]

Hi All,

For copper the right thickness 28 to 32 guage, find an old broken electrical appliance and split the plastic casing. There will be loads of copper wire twisted into a big strand. You have to unwind it but once that is over you have loads of copper wire for needles. You can also use unscented dental floss for thread. It is very, very strong and easy to work with, knot and all. This was passed on to me by another designer and the only reason I didn't share it ages ago was because I wasn't sure she would want me to. But she is using something else now so I feel it is okay.

What I still need is a thread no more than a 28 guage (very thin) but strong that doesn't need a needle. The doubling of thread means it sometimes will not go thru the beads with the tiny holes. The bane of most beaders. What is it that you use for the tiny bead holes, thread wise. Caitlin can you jump in here. I feel you might know if anyone will.

Pattye, I doubt brass will work. It will break more easily than copper. Maybe too hard for the job. Still you will find a use for it, such as using for threading designs before transferring to the thread.

Dawn

 

[knotty panda]

You can try Griffin knotting cord in size 0 with the needle attached. I have some very small gemstone beads that it has fit. The end of the needle is a bit snug but if you work it gently, it will pull through. After that, regular dressmaker silk thread is probably about 28 gauge or use fine stitching thread. Make a needle with Henrietta's Gum Arabic or something along those lines.

 

[jerin]

Hi Inge
Do you have a link to your wire needles?

Caitlin,

the wire I was referring to is an electric cable, which is freed from it?s plastic "mantle" and I don?t know how thick every copper wire is, they are very thin, which makes it so easy to use them just as the photos of Sarah show. I never have tried to twist them but that might be a great idea since the wires are so thin...

The professional needles I use are from Firemountain, The Bead Shack (Australia) and I will look if I can find the links and put them in here later.

 

[jerin]

I sure did miss that little tidbit too, Inge. Are they flexible like the aluminum ones?

Hi Knotty,
I am not sure what you refer to but I have the usual flexible needles, then I have the English type (stiff, looking like usual needles for sewing), I have the Firemountain types (the thin ones are very weak though) and then I use the "peeled" electric cables, where there are perhaps 10-25 wires are together within their plastic protection. Those my husband peeled for me and I have some that are a bit thicker than others. The work beautifully when the drillholes are small... Hope I did answer your Question, Knotty.

 

[pattye]

Thank you All, Inge, Dawn, Knotty, Nerida for the detailed advice and additional info!
Pearl-Guide members are Awesome Friends! I should have some old broken appliances around---------------

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

 

[jerin]

Hi members and guests,

I hope this link will work. It is about flexible eyeneedles, come very handy when stringing pearls with small drillholes.

http://www.beadshack.com.au/catalog...edles&osCsid=f6e885babc316a4d53021bd0193a8d01

I hope it works. If not, the address is www.Beadshack.com

Here is also Firemountains address: http://www.firemountaingems.com/search.asp?skw=Needles

Here another one with beading needles of the "stiff" type:
http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/nsearch?query=Needles&vwcatalog=artbeads&x=16&y=10