pugdog
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Jan 9, 2005, 10:44 AM
Post #1 of 1
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Fishing line follow up
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In the past year+ that the article was published, we've seen a major shift AWAY from the fishing lines and nylons, to the wires.
Perhaps, the availability of the 49 strand, flexible wire in .012 through .024 has had an effect, or perhaps, as I noted in the article, there are significant differences (unknown as yet, at least by me) between using the new fishing lines as fishing line, and using it for beading.
Beading has two distinct type of uses.
Simple stringing and "weaving".
Simple stringing, *should* be similar to the use as a fishing line, but perhaps the difference is that the fish pulls on the end of the line, so the stress is an always end-to-end type pull, along the length of the fibers, while beading is more of a gravitational pull in both directions, from the middle, at a point at the bottom ?? I don't know if that is clear, but think of the fish pulling on the end of the fishing line, and the fisherman pulling back, compared to the necklace sitting around your neck. The weight is distributed differently.
Also, our pick of the bunch was Fireline, and it seems our beading customers -- including new ones who find us for the first time -- have chosen that as their preferred fiber. No real stats, but perhaps 70% use fireline, vs all the other types.
I mention PowerPro, and noses turn up.
We still get a bit of a market for tigertail, but the 3x7 wires do much better, and the price is coming down, as the demand shifts to the 7x7 wires.
Also, and this is a big one, and one that people line up on, is that we are not thrilled with Softflex/etc. Beadalon is the craft-store grade, and they still are not in the big leagues, though they have a reasonable product.
Our choice is Accuflex by Firemountain Gems, and our reasons are pretty simple and straight forward.
We've been using it for almost 3 years, without ANY problems related to quality, fatigue, or breakage.
They offer an unconditional, no-time-limit guarantee on their products, so if it wasn't top grade, they'd be losing a fortune.
If you can't get in to the shop, you can buy it on-line, and not have to shift brands.
And our customers tell us about the problems with the Softflex/etc (usually in the breath right after they tell us how wonderful it is and we should carry it!)
We have not had wire stripping, coating failure, or any of the other problems people have reported with other brands.
I'm interested in how many people are using the Softflex/Softtouch vs Accuflex.
I'm going to start a new thread on this, specific topic.
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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