Inches and mm's, beadalon and crimps

[Luann Udell]

Okay, I'm going crazy trying to match up crimps with Beadalon and Softflex.  The stringing diameter is in hundredths of an inch, the crimps are in mm's.  

Some crimps say they work best with the 40# 49-strand Beadalon (.024") doubled but for strands .012" and under blah blah blah.  

Well, the next weight is 26# at .014", which is between .012" and .024".  (Not much, I'll grant you, but I want to be sure.)  I also have other brands that range from .014" to .019" in diameter.

Which tube crimbs would best with those diameters, doubled?  I'd like 1mm long and 2-3mm long styles.

Thank you--I'm getting lost in the decimal points!!
Luann

[marym]

Luann you ALWAYS ask the tough questions... !!
We are in the process of adding the correct crimp info to our beadalon info, but it just has not happened yet.
I'm going to give you as much info as I have and hopefully that will get you started-

Ok here goes-
First- get rid of a few variables that matter the least, ignore the number of strands and the weight of the string. (Too many numbers can have debilitating effects!!).  Crimps are sized to be folded over- so they should have room for the double strands by using the recommended crimp.

Here's the info we have compiled a little neater for you- take the number you have and round UP... that should secure you get to the right mm.

.010" coverts to .25mm
.012" = .3mm
.013" = .33mm
.015" = .38mm
.018" = .46mm
.020" = .51mm
.024" = .6mm

Hopefully this helps a little!!

[Luann Udell]

LOL, it got to you, too!
I tried to hand copy the measurements to keep for future reference and had to give up after three tries.
When I cut-and-pasted into a Word document, I discovered you had written, ".010" COVERTS into .25mm"....
Freudian slip?  

So, for the 26# Beadalon (which I NOW notice has the appropriate conversion on the label--SORRY!!), the strand diameter of .46mm DOUBLED would be .92mm, which should just barely fit inside the sterling silver tube crimps #41-552, which has an interior diameter of 1.1mm.

Now, I'm going to wait til you say "YES!" and then order a ton of them so I don't have to go through this again.

So what the catalog text is saying is, these crimps will work on even smaller diameter strand stock -- .012" and less, but don't do the FOLDED crimp technique.  (I thought the text was suggesting it would ONLY work with .012" and smaller stock--and couldn't figure out what worked with the .014" diameter strand....)

SHEESH!  And thank you, MaryM!

[marym]

LOL- this was a covert crimp op- too funny.  

Quote

Now, I'm going to wait til you say "YES!" and then order a ton of them so I don't have to go through this again.

 Ok here ya go:

...........YES............!!!!

(and whew)

(and you're very welcome- look for this info to be added to our on-line store soon!)

-Mary

[Luann Udell]

zoooom!!
That was my briffit.  I'm off to buy beads & butane torches & crimps from R&T!!!
Luann

P.S.  I was reading about cartoon terms in a magazine last week.  A "briffit" is the little cloud of dust a cartoon character trails when they take off running.

[marym]

LUAAAAAN WAAAIT.....  

{{I didn't even get to tell her her ceramic wafers were actually here!!}}  

Hmff.

(That's the cartoon term for Hmff.)

[Luann Udell]

Got it!  '>
I actually placed the order with the wafers and two other not-in-stock items, with a note saying I didn't mind waiting....

BTW, after all that, I realized the BEADALON does have the measurements in inches and mm's on their roll.  However, I've also used three other brands of stranding wire and they DON'T have both measurements--hence my confusion.

It's always nice when different crimps can be matched to the right size of Beadalon, though, so I hope it was a usefull exercise.  '>   I get easily confused when leafing back and forth through a catalog to match stuff up...

Now...(ahem).  Last night I called and asked why R&T doesn't carry the 40# Beadalon in black.

(I hear faint screaming...)

Just kidding, I can wait til the next order for that one!
Luann