Question about Gluing Wire in Beads

MrsD · #1 2012-09-06, 1:48am

Not even sure if this is the right place to ask this, but I need some help with gluing wire into beads.

I made some beads like this

but am not happy with the way that the wire is glued in. The beads are NOT hollow, they are simply made on the end of a standard 2.4mm mandrel. To make them into pendants I decided to take some sterling wire, double & twist it to make a loop at the top & then, using some bali spacers to cover the hole, put a bail or link in the loop.

The problem is that the glue I have used isn't working! As a long time crafter I have tons of different types & brands of glue, firstly I tried some Dimensional Magic which normally dries absolutely solid & clear, but in this case it took days & days & just wouldn't dry (I'm guessing because it relies on air to dry & this is inside the bead). So then I tried a general gem/craft glue, once again dries clear but the trouble with that one is it's flexible, so you can move the top around & then it breaks & it won't hold it.

So instead of keep trying every glue I have (or don't have) I thought I would ask if anyone can suggest something that will hold fast & dry fairly fast, has anyone used a 2 part epoxy or a Super Glue (cyanoacrylate) on something like this? Will it work? Or is there something else that will work?

Help please!

Beadanna · #2 2012-09-06, 1:52am

I am planning on trying 2 part epoxy Robyn. I don't think Super glue will work as there needs to be a good flush connection between the pieces.
I have a feeling the 2 part will work. Fingers crossed.
Oh I particularly love the ivory topped pendant!

Ness · #3 2012-09-06, 2:07am

If you make a tension bail too, your glue would be doing only half the work. I have a fish pendant that just has a tension bail and I feel very confident wearing it. But if I was going to sell them I would use the extra precaution of glue.

They are gorgeous pendants!

gubnavnania · #4 2012-09-06, 2:39am

Robyn, Mary has free tutorial for this:

http://www.marylockwood.com/files/ba...intquality.pdf

swamper · #5 2012-09-06, 3:53am

Jennifer Geldard teaches an ingenious tension wire bail. I use this glue. You can get it at Walmart. My bead store sells it too. it's called Zap-a-Gap. It's like superglue with body so it fills in spaces, not just connecting the two touching components. And it set super fast so don't get any on your hands.

http://www.supergluecorp.com/zap/zap-glues/zap-gap

jconsidine11 · #6 2012-09-06, 4:04am

I still have pendants attached with 2-part epoxy from 16 years ago.
Worked for me.
But,now I need to know about this tension bail thingy!
Joan

MrsD · #7 2012-09-06, 6:12am

Thank you everyone, exactly the info I was looking for!

Anna & Ness thank you for the compliments on my beads & for your comments about the glue.

Yunita, thank you, that tutorial is great!

Swamper, thank you, I'm in Australia, so no Walmart but I will see if they sell something similar here.

I can't seem to find info on a tension bail but I will keep looking, will let you know if i find it Joan.

Thanks again everyone!

gubnavnania · #8 2012-09-06, 6:26am

What is tension bail? Any pic?

Three Muses Glass · #9 2012-09-06, 7:40am

This is how I make my bails for end of mandrel beads and things.

Just bend the ends down slightly so it's still springy and cut the wires to fit in the hole. I do use 2 part epoxy. 3M makes a metal to glass one that is fantastic but I would think any good one would do.

jconsidine11 · #10 2012-09-06, 9:28am

Thank you Rebecca!
Joan

swamper · #11 2012-09-06, 3:41pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Three Muses Glass

This is how I make my bails for end of mandrel beads and things.

Just bend the ends down slightly so it's still springy and cut the wires to fit in the hole. I do use 2 part epoxy. 3M makes a metal to glass one that is fantastic but I would think any good one would do.

Yes, that's it. The coil part is actually 2 complete wraps. Thanks for posting.

fionac · #12 2012-09-06, 4:25pm

Selleys Araldite is a 2 part apoxy you can get from most hardware stores in Australia, I think Big W stock it also

gubnavnania · #13 2012-09-06, 6:36pm

Thanks for the pic, Rebecca

Three Muses Glass · #14 2012-09-06, 8:14pm

You're welcome peeps. Linda is right, it's wrapped 2 times. I don't know if you can see that from the pic. Because those round nose pliers are graduated, make one loop, flip it then do the other or they'll come out uneven.

AmorphousDesigns · #15 2012-09-06, 9:26pm

2 part epoxy, stinks to high heaven when applying, but will hold for eternity

MrsD · #16 2012-09-06, 10:33pm

Thanks everyone, sounds like the epoxy might be the way to go, I think we even have some Araldite in the drawer somewhere.

And thanks Rebecca for the pic, much better than what I was doing!