tiger tail wire

{{Short description|Thin nylon-encased wire used for beadwork}}

{{redirect|Tiger-tail||Tiger tail (disambiguation)}}

Tiger tail wire (also called tiger tail or tiger-tail) is a thin wire encased in nylon often used in beaded jewellery, and particularly suited to stringing heavy beads and sharp beads, which tend to fray other kinds of thread.{{Cite book|page=15|title=Cool Beaded Jewelry|author=Pam Scheunemann|publisher=ABDO Publishing Company|year=2010|isbn=1617846317}} For this reason, tiger tail is the thread of choice for gemstones.{{Cite book|page=42|title=Bangles and Bracelets|author=Amanda Doughty|publisher=A & C Black|year=2009|isbn=0713679298}}

Some tiger tail has multiple intertwined wire threads under the nylon coating.{{Cite book|page=11|title=Quick & Easy Beaded Jewelry|author=Elizabeth Gourley|author2=Ellen Talbott |publisher=Krause Publications|year=2002|isbn=087349377X}} The wire threads are made of stainless steel.{{Cite book|page=8|title=Vintage-Style Beaded Jewelry|author=Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell|publisher=North Light Books|year=2004|isbn=1581805470}}

Tiger tail cannot be fashioned into a knot in order to end a sequence of beads as other kinds of thread can;Lockwood (1988), p. 86. instead, crimp beads are often used for this purpose.Lockwood (1988), p. 87. Crimp beads are also used as spacers between other beads strung on tiger tail.{{Cite book|page=14|title=101 Sparkling Necklaces|author=Cheryl Owen|publisher=Random House|year=2007|isbn=1770074783}}

Among the types of wire used for bead stringing, tiger tail is the most common.{{Cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/michaelsbookofar00lark/page/498 498]|title=The Michaels Book of Arts & Crafts|author=Dawn Cusick|author2=Megan Kirb|publisher=Sterling Publishing|year=2003|isbn=1579905307|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/michaelsbookofar00lark/page/498}} Tiger tail is easier to use than many other kinds of thread, and it does not require the use of a sewing needle.{{Cite book|page=16|title=The Encyclopedia of Beading Techniques: A Step-by-Step Visual Guide, with an Inspirational Gallery of Finished Works|author=Sara Withers|author2=Stephanie Burnham |publisher=Running Press|year=2005|isbn=076242043X}} Tiger tail has high ultimate tensile strength and is therefore extremely difficult to tear,{{Cite book|page=8|title=Silver Wire Jewelry: Projects to Coil, Braid & Knit|author=Irene From Petersen|publisher=Sterling Publishing|year=2005|isbn=1579906451}} but if it is creased or twisted, tiger tail has a tendency to kink and then become brittle in the kinked area.{{Cite book|page=56|title=Pagan Prayer Beads: Magic and Meditation with Pagan Rosaries|author=John Michael Greer|author2=Clare Vaughn |publisher=Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari|year=2007|isbn=1578633842}}