Zam\'s chain

Ok I am curious what others have used for the beads that is tied off to one side of Zams belt area. I can tell they are two styles and I am pretty sure they are Hemitite. I got a smaple of what I think they are, but wish to consult with those who have come before me.

mardi gra beads they throw them out for free at the new orleans casino here, well thats what they look like to me anyways.


-Bear

I used mardi gras beads and spray painted them the color I wanted.

Kim

They look bigger to me. and it almost looks like there's another smaller (tube shaped) bead in between each round one:


Oh, if only i could find a way to get to Australia this september

I like the idea of useing Mardi Gras beads, but I am convienced the beads are about that size for the larger one. the smaller one is almost a tube shape, but I am more tempted to say it is a rounded tube. I am still planning to go with Hematite for the beads and create the strands myself.

Try Hot Topic. I think they have beads like that. They are a large dog-tag style chain.

Hope someone finds this helpful.

Yeah, like moviebuff said, they have beads like that on necklaces I've seen. I actually just saw some at KaoZ ( Local tattoo shop ) it was a necklace, and they have connectors. Also, if you have a Spencers gifts around, try them, they usually have them. Buy three or four, and connect them, they should be long enough.

A very stupid question here: What is Mardi Gras?

I've found some of those chain with spheric balls/beads at the local DIY Shop but the biggest is about 3-4mm dimeter (the ones on my pager is about 2mm). And I thought of using sliver painted plastic beads (spheric & tube) but that might not give the weight needed for those chain.

I assume the real one should be about >5mm diameter. How?

Well I am currently stranding my own toughter useing 10mm Hemalyke beads and 8x4mm Hemalyke tubes. These are a actualy stone or metal type of bead that are the cloest thing I have found to the actualy color of the bead. Because of what they are made from theydo weigh a good bit when about 30 of the 10 mm and 30 of the 8x4mm beads are strung up, but I actually think these will suffice for what I am doing. I will try and get a picture posted of them soon.

Mardi Gras = Fat Tuesday. It all started here in Mobile, Alabama. Not New Orleans as most think. I'm sure it has a deeper meaning, but we just get on big floats and throw stuff at people. Basically. Others, feel free to add.

Well, I had hoped that I would have gotten new ideas about the beads. Mardi Gras beads were what was suggested to me as well. I know that MG beads come in different sizes/colors.
But if there are cylinder shaped beads, it would probably be easiest to make your own out of the color you want.
I also thought that her beads may be "pop" beads, but I am not sure how much flexibility that would give. Are the majority of you making your own out of the cylinder and round beads?

these are available at places like Hot Topic... they are those metal bead necklaces - like the bank pen chain - but bigger.... mardi beads are WAY too small and cheap and not so flexible.

Great! Thanks!!!! =-)

I just found some darker colored ones at spencer gifts.Uhg..$30 for three necklaces to equal 75 beads. I don't know if they should be lighter or darker. Some pics have them as a lighter silver bead, and some have it as a darker bead but still mettalic.

Check ACE Hardware. I saw some beads that might fit the bill and they are on a giant spool. You can buy as much or as little as you need and it will be cheaper than Hot Topic or Gadzooks or anywhere in a mall.

Wes

Dallas,

Darker mettalic or silver? I have the feeling if it's ACE, then we will have a problem with finding the darker mettalic, cause hardware stores usually only carry one color methinks, but I could be totally wrong. I know they have chains for like pulley lights, but the size of the bead matters, and the beads are pretty big like 9mm. So, you sure?

hard to say... they looked dark at MOM - but some pix they look silver. i was just going to use my silver ones and give them a light dusting of bronze spray paint - just to dull them a bit but still be shiney.

Zam I Am wrote:
Dallas,

Darker mettalic or silver? I have the feeling if it's ACE, then we will have a problem with finding the darker mettalic, cause hardware stores usually only carry one color methinks, but I could be totally wrong. I know they have chains for like pulley lights, but the size of the bead matters, and the beads are pretty big like 9mm. So, you sure?

They were pretty good size, so it's a safe bet. I'll be back up in Tucson in a week or so and I'll try to get an exact size.

I went up to hot topic yesterday, and found beads for 8.99 a piece.
look at these:
http://www.hottopic.com/store/produc...=100812&RN=187

http://www.hottopic.com/store/produc...=100813&RN=187
could they work?
ZW~

ZamWessel~ wrote:
I went up to hot topic yesterday, and found beads for 8.99 a piece.
could they work?
ZW~

Actually, I stopped there too, and they were cheaper, but only by a buck each necklace. Yeah, they do work, but you have to get the right sized ones. There are some that are HUGE and some that are too small and some that are just right. The only problem is the connection of all three necklaces shows the visible, large clasp. I wish it could be just one strand of 9mm diameter chained beads. That would be exact. That's why I questioned the ACE ones, Cause, it's almost impossible to solder the necklaces together. The reason I went to spencers and purchased three necklaces from there, is cause they already had a darker mettalic finish. But different pics show different colors. MOM pics show a bit darker beads, and some studio shots make the beads look really silver.

I found some at Emigh that looked like the right Diameter and it was on a giant spool. It looked like it was only $2.00 a foot (if i remember right). This one i saw was a nice shiny chrome color. they had smaller in a more bronze color. But i am sure you can buy the silver ones and use a bronze and/or black spray paint and lightly "dust" them to make them more used and grungy. But i do have a question...How much feet/inches do i need? If someone was to go the hot topic route, how many neckleces would they need for the right length (in the MOTM pictures, there are about 73 visable beads)?

75 beads worth. Let's all head down to ACE-- it's the Place you said it's the right diameter about 9mm?

FYI: Just got the ones from Emighs Hardware. The Diameter is about 11/32 of an inch (.34375 for the largest), which is 8.73mm. So if you round, its about 9mm. The price is $1.99 foot and 75 beads is about 3'-4". Hope this helps!

seventhz777z wrote:
FYI: Just got the ones from Emighs Hardware. The Diameter is about 11/32 of an inch (.34375 for the largest), which is 8.73mm. So if you round, its about 9mm. The price is $1.99 foot and 75 beads is about 3'-4". Hope this helps!

hey can you post a pic? do they have that metal chain inbetween? And, if so, will ya be willing to buy some for us? We don't have a emighs hardware in our neck of the woods. I wouldn't mind getting 2 strands of 75 beads if it costs 4.00 plus shipping and looks right if you are willing to ship. I haven't taken the opportunity to go to ace yet in MD to check things out, but we are really swamped right now with other costuming issues.

I might be interested in some as well. I've looked at the ACE here but they don't carry anything other than decorative chains.

I went ahead and got some from Hot Topic. I'm wondering if I want to darken them a bit if something like alumablack or gunblue will work. I have some but I haven't tried it yet. I'd like something that'll hold up better and might not rub off on the leg

Oh, you know, I got the last three "darker colored ones" at spencer gifts. It might save you the trouble of "darkening" them up. Although, some pics have it really silver and some have it "darker" so... up to yall Let us know if there is a way that you can break the chain in order to get rid of the "clasp" part and reassemble it into one long chain.

Went to another local Ace hardware today (much bigger one). They have litterally 4 times the amount of gadgets etc. than the other hardware stores. Anyway, they have the 3/8" stainless steel bead on the roll. Something like $1.80 per foot. They sell the clasps seperately. I'm returning my hot topic beads and getting those. That'll save me like $11.00 and I'm sure I can dip them in alumablack or something to darken them. I can buy an extra foot and play with color


Edit:
They're actually $1.96 per foot before tax. 75 beads is about 3'4 3/8". I bought 4 feet for a total of $8.37

Here is a side by side compairison of Zam's beads and the ones I found at emighs. Each bead is seperated by a metal spacer. If anyone is interested in getting ahold of these please let me know and I will see what I can do. Hope this helps.

O.K.,
I did a couple tests with both permablue and alumablack (made by Birchwood Casey) on the beads. I personally like how the permablue works and turns out but looking at pics, the alumablack may be more accurate. If you try this, clean the beads with rubbing alcohol first because there is skin oil on the beads which inhibits the tarnishing effect of the chemical. Also, cut off some extra beads and practice. The permablue takes a bit longer and you can soak the beads for 30 to 60 seconds. The alumablack takes about 8 seconds. My first test, I soaked them for one minute and they're really black. After soaking, rinse with cold water and dry with a cloth.

I'm going to send zam i am a couple of the tests and get a second opinion on color (in person).

(permablue is on the left and alumablack is on the right)
It's very difficult to really see the color in this pic.

Oh yeah, you can look up birchwood casey on the web and order a small bottle of perma blue or aluminum black from many suppliers. Perhaps a gunsmith or local sporting shop might have it also.

GREAT TIP Mon I have both a long, continuious string of silver beads which is too shiney and 3 short "spencer's gifts" strings which are the right color - but in 3 strands (so, i'd have to hide the connectors)......

this will work great on my long stand..

oh, here's a direct link for those who can't find it... only $7.50 a bottle:

https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport...menu=3&item=23

Great tip! Thanks!!!!

And on the link...note... it is about 2/3 down page! The first price I saw was $109 for something there... just about fell out of my chair!

Yeah! I got moncal's beads! Ok-- definately don't try alumablack for 1 minute, way too long, and I don't know if you saw, but it rusted the cylinder between the beads. But, alumablack for 10 seconds and permablue for 30 seconds is a lot nicer. Lemme see which is better between all of them. Then again, Dallas would have had a better shot at getting the color than I would, but, here are my 2 cents... If ya wanna go with- not so shiney, then permablue. If ya want shinier, then alumablack. My spencers beads are a tad lighter and more silver than Moncal's tests. I personally like the alumiblack on how it coated just cause it looks shinier. but i don't know about accuracy... For accuracy, permablue seems more fitting. I wasn't there at MOM. The ones in the MOM pic look a bit more dull, but that could have been any number of things and permablue is a tad duller in the finish. Wow tough choice. I noticed that soaking the stuff in alumablack causes rust to form easily on both sets of alumiblack beads. Mebbe permablue would be best due to the potential rust factor of alumablack.

I was strolling a local market this afternoon and look what I found! It looks identical to the chain Zam has hanging from her belt! Does anybody else still need it? I could get some more.



Sorry, the pics are a little big, but I can't make them smaller at the moment.

Good Find, check out this topic about the beads and wheathering yours: http://tdh.prop-planet.com/viewtopic...=1053&forum=10
good luck

Great looking...err...umm...chain!

Just a note...

I darkened my ball chain w/ alumi-black some time ago then throughly dried it - even let it dry in the sun for hours... Then i hung it up in my shop and didn't look at it for months...

Went to look at it today and noticed a lot of rust around the holes of each ball... grrr... i really thought i had dried it good too.

Anyway - the rust came off somewhat easily w/ a scotch brite pad - but the black also rubbed off some.

But - i actually like it like this... it gives it a good mix of black and silver... a good patina...

That's all i really had to say - watch out for rust.

Yeah, i noticed it right away with moncal's sample beads. That's why I opted for the blue stuff too. I like the color better of alumiblack, but still that rusty prob. Sigh... I really need to have a zam con so all yalls can see everything that people have sent me and also just impart all this stuff in my noggin. Yall would have such an easier time, and not have the same problems I have had. Even bigger sigh...