Soft Flex® Wire is constructed of either 21 or 49 micro woven, stainless steel wires, braided together and then nylon coated. This micro-wire technology gives you the most flexible and knottable stainless steel in the world. It is hypoallergenic, and since Soft Flex® Wire is marine quality, it can be worn in and out of salt and fresh water. Each diameter was designed to handle certain levels of abrasion, everything from soft materials like pearls and seed beads to rougher materials like glass, minerals and metal.

Soft Flex FAQ's

What is the Difference Between Soft Flex and Soft Touch Wire - If you want more flexibility with your design, use Soft Touch. The difference between Soft Flex and Soft Touch is simply flexibility. Soft Flex Wire® set a benchmark in the beading industry for quality. After surpassing our competitors, we decided to create a wire that was even more supple than our Soft Flex. Our premium line, Soft Touch, is this wire. Soft Touch is fifty percent more supple than Soft Flex. If your designs demand a thread-like drape, there is nothing better than Soft Touch. Soft Touch has the same strength and durability as Soft Flex, but feels much more delicate. If you want a to use a color or prefer more shape and body to your wire, our original line, Soft Flex, is still your best bet.

What Diameter of Soft Flex or Soft Touch Should I Use? - There are 4 stringing diameters in Soft Flex and Soft Touch. It is important that you choose the correct one for your needs. Most problems with stringing occur when someone is using the wrong diameter for the type of beads that they are using in their design.

• .014 is designed for softer, less abrasive materials such as freshwater pearls and seed beads. Diameter .014 offers the softness and flexibility of pearl stringing threads yet has the strength of stainless steel.
• .019 was designed for use with small to medium glass beads, Austrian crystals, silver, pewter, 80% of freshwater pearls and seed beads. Recommended when you are designing with a variety of materials.
• .024 was designed for abrasive materials and designs that will meet excessive movement such as watchbands and bracelets. It's great for multi-strand designs, African trade beads and large stones.
• .010 Soft Touch is constructed of 7 micro stainless steel wires. As soft as thread, with the strength of steel. This diameter is widely used for illusion style necklaces. The 1mm Soft Flex Crimp Tube is typically recommended for diameter .010 in Soft Touch and should be crimped with the Micro Crimping Pliers. The World's first Stainless Steel Beading Thread! Designed for Sewing, Crocheting and Knitting.

Is It Necessary to Pre-Stretch Soft Flex Wire? - There is a common misconception that beading wire, such as Soft Flex, stretches when used for necklaces and bracelets. Soft Flex Wire is comprised of interwoven stainless steel strands. Stainless steel is obviously not a substance that is going to stretch. What is happening when a piece appears to have stretched (i.e. there is more room between the crimp and the beads than when you strung the piece) is that the steel inside the braid has tightened down. There are lots of remedies to pre-stretch the wire to avoid this, but the easiest way is to just use the correct diameter of wire for whatever project you are designing. You can find our suggestions for what diameter to use and when on this very page.

Labelled with ICRA