French Wire comes in four sizes, Fine, Medium, Heavy and X-Heavy. It is fine guage coiled wire that acts as a safeguard to prevent clasps from "wearing on" or "cutting through" silk and other bead cords. It also provides a nicer, more professional appearance to your finished piece.

Depending on the size of the jump ring or clasp, use approximately 1/8" to 3/8" (3mm-9mm) on knotted or unknotted strands, adjusting length longer or shorter to suit your design . Cut two equal lenghts of French Wire so both ends match. The proper size French Wire should slide easily, but not loosely, on the stringing material.

Fine French Wire has an ID (inside diameter) of .060mm (.024") and should be used with:

Silk Thread sizes 0-4

Twice Threaded Dandyline sizes XF, F, M, H

Twice Threaded Nymo sizes B & C

and other cord up to size .06mm

Medium French Wire has an ID (inside diameter) of .070mm (.028") and should be used with:

Silk Thread sizes 0-6

Twice Threaded Dandyline sizes XF, F, M, H, XH

Twice Threaded Nymo sizes B, C, D, E, F

and other cord up to size .07mm

Heavy French Wire has an ID (inside diameter) of .080mm (.032") and should be used with:

Silk Thread sizes 0-8

Twice Threaded Dandyline sizes XF, F, M, H, XH

Twice Threaded Nymo sizes B, C, D, E, F

and other cord up to size .08mm