Tiger tail wire explained
Tiger tail wire (also called tiger tail or tiger-tail) is a thin wire encased in nylon often used in beaded jewellery, and particularly suited to stringing heavy beads and sharp beads, which tend to fray other kinds of thread.[1] For this reason, tiger tail is the thread of choice for gemstones.[2]
Some tiger tail has multiple intertwined wire threads under the nylon coating.[3] The wire threads are made of stainless steel.[4]
Tiger tail cannot be fashioned into a knot in order to end a sequence of beads as other kinds of thread can,[5] therefore crimp beads are often used for this purpose instead.[6] Crimp beads are also used as spacers between other beads strung on tiger tail.[7]
Among the types of wire used for bead stringing, tiger tail is the most common.[8] Tiger tail is easier to use than many other kinds of thread, and it does not require the use of a sewing needle.[9] Tiger tail has high ultimate tensile strength and is therefore extremely difficult to tear,[10] but if it is creased or twisted, tiger tail has a tendency to kink and then become brittle in the kinked area.[11]
Bibliography
Notes and References
- Book: 15. Cool Beaded Jewelry. Pam Scheunemann. ABDO Publishing Company. 2010. 1617846317.
- Book: 42. Bangles and Bracelets. Amanda Doughty. A & C Black. 2009. 0713679298.
- Book: 11. Quick & Easy Beaded Jewelry. Elizabeth Gourley. Ellen Talbott . Krause Publications. 2002. 087349377X.
- Book: 8. Vintage-Style Beaded Jewelry. Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell. North Light Books. 2004. 1581805470.
- Lockwood (1988), p. 86.
- Lockwood (1988), p. 87.
- Book: 14. 101 Sparkling Necklaces. Cheryl Owen. Random House. 2007. 1770074783.
- Book: 498. The Michaels Book of Arts & Crafts. Dawn Cusick. Megan Kirb. Sterling Publishing. 2003. 1579905307. registration.
- Book: 16. The Encyclopedia of Beading Techniques: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, with an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works. Sara Withers. Stephanie Burnham . Running Press. 2005. 076242043X.
- Book: 8. Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit. Irene From Petersen. Sterling Publishing. 2005. 1579906451.
- Book: 56. Pagan Prayer Beads: Magic and Meditation with Pagan Rosaries. John Michael Greer. Clare Vaughn . Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari. 2007. 1578633842.
