Product Review: Heavy Duty Clamshell Bead Tips

I used these once or twice. Then I couldn't get them anymore. I'm so happy to
hear about this!

A couple of weeks ago, I said I would buy these and report back to the group
with my results. here ya go:

Clamshell bead tips, sometimes called Fold-Over Bead Tips, are designed to
completely hide the knot at the end of a strand. When the halves are
together, it looks like a round bead. Usually, I put a seed bead in the metal
bead tip and dab it with a touch of crystal cement to make sure the knot
doesn't slip out of this finding.

The normal clamshell bead tips have one loop or ring at the end of the
"shell" part, which is meant to attach to a jump ring or similar finding.
Some of these bead tips have an open hook of metal, which can be bent into a
ring shape. They also come in a variety of metals - I only use Sterling
Silver or Gold Filled, as I have found that base metals just don't do it for
me.

These new clamshells have a 1 mm loop on both sides of the "shell," that
looping metal is unneccessary. Once a Jump ring is secured through both
holes, it would be quite difficult for the clamshell to open up, so the bead
strand would be much more secure.

Today, I got a chance to try the new bead tips. I found that they are
everything that they are advertised to be, and a huge advance over the older
kind of clamshell. The finished ends are much more professional looking, and
with my customary drop of watch cement, these things aren't going anywhere.
They're about 50% more expensive than the hook kind of clamshell tip, but
that only added about $0.30 to the cost of my necklace. For the extra
security, I can live with that.

I've only seen these heavy duty clamshells at Rings and Things
(www.rings-things.com) - search on "bead+tips" to find them. However, I
expect that they'll become a lot more widespread as word gets out. Highly
recommended.

Your intrepid reporter,

Kathy N-V


~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

I've only seen these heavy duty clamshells at Rings and Things
(www.rings-things.com) - search on "bead+tips" to find them. However, I
expect that they'll become a lot more widespread as word gets out. Highly
recommended.

Thank you VERY much, Kathy! These are something I will definitely
check out.

Thanks!!!

Kathy K
"Kathy N-V" wrote in message
.com...
A couple of weeks ago, I said I would buy these and report back to the
group
with my results. here ya go:

Clamshell bead tips, sometimes called Fold-Over Bead Tips, are designed to
completely hide the knot at the end of a strand. When the halves are
together, it looks like a round bead. Usually, I put a seed bead in the
metal
bead tip and dab it with a touch of crystal cement to make sure the knot
doesn't slip out of this finding.

The normal clamshell bead tips have one loop or ring at the end of the
"shell" part, which is meant to attach to a jump ring or similar finding.
Some of these bead tips have an open hook of metal, which can be bent into
a
ring shape. They also come in a variety of metals - I only use Sterling
Silver or Gold Filled, as I have found that base metals just don't do it
for
me.

These new clamshells have a 1 mm loop on both sides of the "shell," that
looping metal is unneccessary. Once a Jump ring is secured through both
holes, it would be quite difficult for the clamshell to open up, so the
bead
strand would be much more secure.

Today, I got a chance to try the new bead tips. I found that they are
everything that they are advertised to be, and a huge advance over the
older
kind of clamshell. The finished ends are much more professional looking,
and
with my customary drop of watch cement, these things aren't going
anywhere.
They're about 50% more expensive than the hook kind of clamshell tip, but
that only added about $0.30 to the cost of my necklace. For the extra
security, I can live with that.

I've only seen these heavy duty clamshells at Rings and Things
(www.rings-things.com) - search on "bead+tips" to find them. However, I
expect that they'll become a lot more widespread as word gets out. Highly
recommended.

Your intrepid reporter,

Kathy N-V

Thank you, this looks great.

Lara

scaperchick wrote in message . ..
I've only seen these heavy duty clamshells at Rings and Things
(www.rings-things.com) - search on "bead+tips" to find them. However, I
expect that they'll become a lot more widespread as word gets out. Highly
recommended.

Thank you VERY much, Kathy! These are something I will definitely
check out.