Which to use - beading wire or wire wrapping wire?

[Former_Member]

I am working on a necklace for a friend and I can't decide how to best assemble the necklace. Here's a photo of the layout on my beading board (I hope this link works).

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd108/marstmi/IMG_0001.jpg

I'm not sure this is my final layout, but the it will be something like this. The necklace will have a large center stone and will then have smaller groupings of stones mixed in with some sterling silver oval links. I'm trying to decide if I should use beading wire for each grouping of stones that connect to the sterling links, or if should I string the stones on sterling wire and wire-wrap each section to the sterling links. Or maybe a mixture of both (sterling wire for the shorter stone groupings and beading wire for the longer stone groupings, like near the clasp). I hope that makes sense.

My concern is the weight of the necklace since its made with natural stones and will be somewhat heavy. I'm afraid the beading wire won't be strong enough (I have 49 strand, but only 0.014 diameter in my inventory). But I'm afraid sterling wire will make the necklace stiff and it won't drape well.

I really appreciate any suggestions!!

[AnjasArts]

How thick is your sterling?

[Former_Member]

I have 22, 24 & 26 gauge wire that I could use. All dead soft.

[AnjasArts]

If you use the 26 ga it would be flexible enough that it should fall ok, just make sure you shape the necklace how you want it before you give it to her, or connect the links with jump rings to give it more capability for movement.

[Former_Member]

I think you definitely need to invest in some .019 beading wire or stronger. I would be afraid that using the 26 gauge sterling wire on a section may kink and if you tried to get the kink out, the wire may break.. I would hate to use the sterling wire and then find out it's a problem. especially given the price of silver these days! I would love to see a picture when it is finished.
I like your design. Lucky friend!!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the suggestions! Jump rings - DUH. Not sure why I didn't think of them. That might work to give me the flexibility I need. I'll probably still need to use beading wire near the back of the necklace because that grouping of stones will be about 4 inches (on each side). Too long I think for wire. And I think EpiphanyCreations is right - I'll need to go get some heavier beading wire for those sections, just to be safe. Darn - I guess that means a trip to the beading store tomorrow! :-)

[vintagecalif]

26 gauge will be too flimsy to hold that weight. 49 strand Soft Flex or Beadalon will be strong enough. Just check your beads for rough edges before stringing.

The weight is rarely the culprit for a broken necklace. It is usually the result of a bead cutting thru the stringing material or a poorly crimped termination.

Design is pretty though. Good luck.

[Former_Member]

judging from the drillholes, 24-22 gauge sterling wire would work. you could try wrapping the larger stones with sterling and the small rondell sets with beading wire. good luck with your piece! it looks fantastic!

www.stonesandfindings.com

[Former_Member]

If I'm judging the scale of the dyed agate right you could use either type depending on the look your going for, I just wouldn't use the ones that you say you have already.

On the nylon coated wire I would use any that has a tensile strength of over 8lbswith 49 strands for drapability and with wire guards for connection strength, since the segement are fairly short.

With the wire wrap wire I would use a 20 - 22 gauge half hard (or work harden dead soft), on the bigger beads do individual beads wrapped links connected by jump rings to each other and do the smaller beads in stations (clusters) of 2-3 beads per wrapped link, you'll lose some of the drapability this way but it could make the certain beads stand out more.