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]

References

  1. ^ Pam Scheunemann (2010). Cool Beaded Jewelry. ABDO Publishing Company. p. 15. ISBN 1617846317.
  2. ^ Amanda Doughty (2009). Bangles and Bracelets. A & C Black. p. 42. ISBN 0713679298.
  3. ^ Elizabeth Gourley; Ellen Talbott (2002). Quick & Easy Beaded Jewelry. Krause Publications. p. 11. ISBN 087349377X.
  4. ^ Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell (2004). Vintage-Style Beaded Jewelry. North Light Books. p. 8. ISBN 1581805470.
  5. ^ Lockwood (1988), p. 86.
  6. ^ Lockwood (1988), p. 87.
  7. ^ Cheryl Owen (2007). 101 Sparkling Necklaces. Random House. p. 14. ISBN 1770074783.
  8. ^ Dawn Cusick; Megan Kirb (2003). The Michaels Book of Arts & Crafts. Sterling Publishing. p. 498. ISBN 1579905307.
  9. ^ Sara Withers; Stephanie Burnham (2005). The Encyclopedia of Beading Techniques: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, with an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works. Running Press. p. 16. ISBN 076242043X.
  10. ^ Irene From Petersen (2005). Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit. Sterling Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 1579906451.
  11. ^ John Michael Greer; Clare Vaughn (2007). Pagan Prayer Beads: Magic and Meditation with Pagan Rosaries. Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari. p. 56. ISBN 1578633842.

Bibliography

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