How to String Jewelry with Bead Tips

Bead tips are metal jewelry components used to join thread to a clasp. They make strong, streamlined finished jewelry and are easy to use. Here's how!

---

Skill Level	Suitable for beginners.
Time Required	Minutes

Materials	Comments
Pre-Strung Jewelry	Exception: Certain types of knotted jewelry
2 Bead Tips	Choose from Clamshell (Clamp) or Standard Styles
Thread Nippers	I used my flush cutters.
Flat Nose Pliers or Chain Nose Pliers	For closing bead tips
Forceps or Tweezers	For securing knots
Clasp	Goldfilled Lobster Claw is Pictured

First things first! Why would you want to use a bead tip? Well, if you are using wire or leather, you wouldn't! If you are using beading thread, you could skip bead tips altogether and tie your thread onto the clasp. This is a viable option in certain situations. With heavy beadwork on beading cord, bead tips are used to provide a strong connection to the clasp while minimizing the stress on the cord. I prefer bead tips to bullion (tiny coiled wire) for handknotted pearls because I feel bullion wears too quickly, making restringing necessary.

There is more than one type of bead tip and they come in more than one size. The type you use will be a matter of availability and personal preference, but the size is dictated by the thickness of your beading cord. The common sizes available to me are 0.029" and 0.034". These sizes refer to the size of thread that the tips allow (hole diameter), but many times the smaller hole size is accompanied by a smaller (weaker) hook. Sometimes a smaller hook is needed to fit into the hole of a clasp or component. If you use a tip with a hole to large for your thread, you will risk the knot slipping through the hole. There are some 'tricks' to prevent this so you can use a heavyweight bead tip, but it's probably best to use a tip where the hole is just slightly larger than your cord.

String your beads onto your cord. There's no need to cut the string - just leave it attached to the spool. String a bead tip last, with the hook portion facing the end of the thread. Some clamshell beadtips string onto cord the same way, while others simply close over a knot at the end, with an indentation to allow for the string.

Knot your thread. If the hole in your bead tip is a loose fit for your thread, you can tie the end of the thread around a size 15/0 seed bead. I used a simple overhand knot in the photo, but some threads require special knots (e.g., fluorocarbon fiber will be weakened by an overhand knot) or double knots.

Use thread nippers or flush cutters to cut close to the knot. Don't cut all the way to the edge. Leave a tiny bit of cord to allow for extra security. Don't glue the knot yet! If you glue it now you may stiffen the cord far enough down to make it difficult to tie a good knot behind the bead tip.

I like the security offered by tying a knot behind the bead tip. This way, if the tip breaks (and sometimes they do), you won't have beads scattered everywhere. This is an especially important step for valuable beads, such as pearls. In fact, the exact same technique is used to knot between individual pearls when using a single cord. Hold your tweezers snug against the bead tip, loop the cord around behind the tweezers, and pull the knot tight. You may wish to use a straight pin to adjust the placement of the knot, but if you keep hold of your tweezers when forming the loop, you can get a tight, perfectly-placed knot every time.

Look carefully at the placement of the cord inside the bead tip. Notice that the end of the thread is facing the back of the tip. You don't want to end facing the front because it can cause difficulties when inserting the clasp or component. Now glue the knot. In this photo, I have applied a small bit of glue (Jewel Bond) to the tip of a straight pin, to allow for precise placement of the glue. The glue or adhesive you use will need to dry clear and be flexible, non-yellowing, and waterproof. Clear nail polish and Hypo cement are popular choices. Apply just enough glue to coat the knot. If the glue travels down the length of the cord it can stiffen it, which can lead to fraying and breakage.

Let the glue dry before adding the second bead tip. If you don't, you run the risk of getting glue on your beads or thread. See how nice a bead tip looks when it has been added?

After the knot is dry, slide all of the beads of your strand down against it. Make sure there are no gaps. Otherwise, the tightness of the beads will depend on your stringing material. Some cords have a lot of stretch (e.g., silk), so you want the beads to be pretty tight now, since they will loosen later. Other cords require a loose tension or the else the beads will bunch up. Grab behind the last bead with your tweezers and knot behind it. It's exactly the same as the knot at the beginning, except you are brining the entire strand through the loop. Tighten the knot and cut the cord from the spool, allowing about 4 inches past the knot. Your end beads should have small enough holes so that they won't slip past the knot.

Add the second bead tip, with the hook facing the end of the cord.

Use a fingernail to tease the strands of the cord apart.

Tie the ends together into a knot, tight against the inside of the bead tip. If your cord is small compared to the hole in the bead tip, you may wish to tie a 15/0 bead into the knot. Make sure to keep the ends of the cord away from the front of the bead tip. I like to spread them apart and glue them to the inside of the tip, making them practically invisible. Glue the knot and allow it to dry. Trim the ends of the cord flush with the side of the bead tip. Add a clasp or other component and you're done! Here are instructions for adding a clasp and closing your bead tips correctly.

Subscribe to AIA Jewelry Making