A bead threader is a device that spins beads in a bowl to help thread them onto wire or thread quickly. It can reduce eye and hand strain, but only works with rounded, same-sized beads. Wooden ones are preferred by professionals, while hobbyists prefer plastic.
A bead threader is a device that helps jewelry makers thread beads onto wire or thread quickly and easily. The device is a bowl that the user fills with beads and then spins, causing the beads to move clockwise or counterclockwise. To thread beads onto thread or string, the user holds a curved needle so that the hook of the needle points in the opposite direction of the spinning beads. The spinning pushes the beads against the hook of the needle, thus threading the beads onto the needle and thread.
Jewelry makers use several names besides bead stringer. Some people refer to the device as a bead spinner due to the spinning of the bowl. Others call it a beaded cord.
Most companies offer wooden bead stringers, but others make plastic ones. Typically, professional jewelry makers prefer wooden ones because they are sturdier. Hobbyists often prefer plastic ones because they tend to cost less. Some people offer tutorials and templates for homemade variations. Some manufacturers sell motorized spinners, but most are hand powered.
One advantage of the bead threader is that it can save a person from the eye strain of finding the tiny holes in the beads. It’s also much faster than stringing the beads on the wire one at a time. If the rotating bowl is large enough, it can reduce hand strain. Some bead threaders have small spinning bowls and can force a person to hold the needle at an awkward angle and cause hand fatigue.
One disadvantage of the bead stringer is that the beads are strung in a random order. It doesn’t matter if the beads are all the same color, but when the jewelry maker wants to thread a planned arrangement of different colors, the threader is not the appropriate tool. Another drawback is that the beads should be rounded, similar to seed beads or pony beads, and the beads should be the same size for the device to work properly.
With practice, most users learn the correct spinning speed and the right amount of beads to place in the bowl. Generally, one person can stuff the needle with beads and then push them onto the beading thread or thread attached to the beading needle. Many crafters who are not jewelry makers find a bead threader to be a useful beading tool. These include crochet and knitting artisans, loom weavers, and other people who use beaded threads.
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