Confused over Bead Wire Numbers?

The beading world can sometimes be confusing with all its numbers. Stringing wire is a good example. "Stringing wire" is a bunch of stainless steel wires bundled together and then coated is added for strength, durability and comfort.

How does a new beader know which beading wire to use and when? Well, stringing wire comes in many different diameters and that is the way that they are measured. They begin with wire as small as .007 inches in diameter and goes up to .024 inches and some are even larger.

Why should you choose one over another? One thing to consider is the type of beads you will be stringing onto the wire. Some beads have larger holes than others, and some are rougher on the inside than others. If you are using man-made beads such as ceramic, Czech glass, or Swarovski Crystals the holes will usually be a bit larger and uniform in size. Depending on the quality of those beads, some are a little sharper on the edges than others.

The weight of the beads is another thing to think about. If you hang large beads, more than 8 mm on the thinnest wire, the beads will pull the wire. So on larger man-made beads, I try to use a little bit larger diameter wire, maybe one that is .018. That is really my “go to” size of wire. It is a good all-around size.

If you are stringing natural stones there are other considerations. Something that new beaders do not realize is that most natural stones are drilled from both sides of the bead and the drills meet in the middle, so even if a hole looks big enough on the outside, sometimes it is much smaller in the middle. I usually use just a little bit smaller wire than I think I need for natural stones. Then there are pearls. Pearls take a much smaller wire because when they are drilled, the person drilling wants to leave as much nacre as possible. A more familiar name for nacre is Mother of Pearl. That’s what gives them their beautiful shine. The result is very small holes in pearls.

But you ask, “There are other numbers on this wire. What do they mean?” The other numbers on the spools of beading wire, usually refer to how many strands of individual wires are twisted into the wire. The most common numbers are 7, 21 and 49. And, just because there are more strands, it does not mean that the wire is larger. It is possible to have 49-strand .018 gage wire just like it is possible to have 7-strand .018 gage wire. And strangely, the more strands, the more flexible the wire. I am not sure about this, but I think it is because those 49 strands are so thin that the whole wire is more pliable.

I hope this has made choosing beading wire a little easier for you. We at Heirloom Classics - Jewelry and Beads are here to help you understand even more or to explain this in a different way, if you still have questions. We have been here in Fountain Square for nearly 2 years now and Judy has been making jewelry for many years before that. Please feel free to call anytime you have questions, or better yet, drop in (free parking on the side of the building). We will be happy to answer general questions and have classes to teach the specifics. We are located at 1311 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, IN 46203 (located in the Historic Fountain Square area). Phone number is 317-495-1102. Web Site is: www.heirloom-classics.com. And you can email us at: info@heirloom-classics.com. We are open from 11am till 7 pm Monday thru Saturday, and closed Sundays.