In which I request jewelry advice

[kaberett]

Specifically, I have a necklace that's haemetite & lava & some plastic spacer beads strung on cheap plasticated misc with a very very scratchy clasp. I also have some rutilated quartz I'd like to replace the plastic with, while simultaneously making the clasp less sensory hell (it's those thing pressed metal loops at each end, poss filled with adhesive, to hold the actual string in a loop; one of them has a standard clasp strung on it, and the other goes into the clasp).

This isn't something where I want to invest in doing lots of tiny fiddly silver links, but I don't know what the keywords are for purchasing restringing materials that won't be sensory hell. Input & advice on what I should be looking for very much appreciated -- thank you!

Comments

[me_and]

I don't know what the correct terms are, bit I know there's a bead shop near Covent Garden that is probably capable of selling you the relevant information bits.

[kaberett]

if I'm dragging myself out of the house for this shit I'm going to the independent bead shop in Cambridge. :-p

[rjw76]

How would you like the necklace to fasten? This will have a bearing on what it can be restrung on, though in general I recommend Fireline, which is high quality nylon fishing line rebranded and sold on tiny reels for jewellery makers, and could pop some in the post for you if you want to go that way. It's nigh on unbreakable.

[kaberett]

I'm fine with lobster clasps; I just really really really want to avoid the horrible scratchy loops on the current set-up. Would taking a photo to demonstrate what I mean be helpful? (Would have to wait til tomorrow evening at this point, but hey.) I am potentially very grateful for the offer of a small quantity of the Fireline :-)

[rjw76]

Photo would be useful. There are plenty of ways to avoid the scratchy loops ranging from "glue a smooth bead over them" to "get one of those clasps you fasten on by poking the thread into a hole then knotting it so it can't get out again" though I'm quite lost on how you'd search for those on ebay...

[azurelunatic]

bead tips, clam shell, calotte.

[kaberett]

Thank you <3

(Meltdown now being collaboratively managed)

[untonuggan]

there are magnetic clasps that i have found very helpful bc then there are no tiny fiddly bits! and you can get them in silver and suchlike and it's magic. probably something like this one on etsy, though you may be able to get one to ship from closer. also you can pick between silver and other metals depending on allergies.

the scratchy metal things are the "standard" way to attach clasps from what i remember of a beading class i took, but you can also tie the string around the end of a clasp and then loop the remainder back under the other beads and add a dab of glue (either on the knot or on one of the beads) to hold in place.