Upgrade Your Necklaces with These Professional Tips

When you string a necklace, there’s always the decision to make about how to end it. Do you use crimp covers or simply crimp the ends.

In this tutorial I’m introducing a product called a BeadBandit. This little darling gives you a really professional finish to your necklaces and hides the crimp bead all in one step.

In the process of showing you how to use the Bead Bandit, I made this beautiful red and gold necklace. This was a super quick and easy project, especially good for beginner jewelry makers.

Materials

Here’s what you will need to make this necklace:

Tools‍

Chain Nose Pliers x2
Flush Cutters or Scissors

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below.

Using the Bead Bandit

Thread one crimp bead onto the end of the Tiger Tail. Squeeze it hard with the chain nose pliers to flatten it.

Trim off the short end of the Tiger Tail.

Unscrew the bead bandit and thread the screw part onto the other end of the Tiger Tail, from the top (screw part) to the bottom (where the hole is).

Push the screw part all the way up to the crimp bead.

Now screw the top of the Bead Bandit onto the screw part.

It couldn’t be easier – what a great way to make your necklaces look professionally finished.

Thread on the Beads

Now that you have your Bead Bandit on, you can thread on the beads in the following order, starting and finishing with 27 of the 3mm gold balls. Note that a beaded rondelle goes between all the beads except the 3mm balls.

Now you have all your beads on, you can finish the other end.

Finishing the Necklace

Unscrew the second Bead Bandit and thread the screw side onto the Tiger Tail from the bottom up.

Run it all the way down to the beads. Ensure there are no gaps in the beads.

Thread on the remaining crimp bead and squeeze it close to the top of the Bead Bandit.

Screw on the other part of the Bead Bandit. Now you have two beautifully covered crimp beads.

Attach the Clasp

Open one of the 4mm jump rings. If you haven’t used jump rings before, watch this video to see how.

Feed on the loop of the Bead Bandit and the hook clasp. Close the jump ring.

Open the other 4mm jump ring and thread on the 6mm jump ring as well as the loop of the other Bead Bandit. Close the loop.

That’s all there is to it. It’s actually a pretty easy project and the results are spectacular. Don’t you agree that adding the Bead Bandit is so much nicer than just a regular crimp bead?