LOL this thread is like a game of Chinese whispers it started off about finishing off and finished up leading us onto lead - thank god its not in the thread

Firstly - knotting wire
Softflex was probably the first to "approve" and recomend its product as suitable for knotting. And of all the wire products i've come across it is definately the best of them. (Having said that 98%+ of my work is done on thread - but if your going to use wire Softflex is the one to use)

Now on to Lead in Crystal beads.
This question about Swarovski crystal being harmful because it is leaded crystal keeps cropping up on the internet.

Lead is harmful if it is CONSUMED. So if you take your Swarovski crystal beads, grind them into powder, then dissolve that powder in liquid and drink it, I guess you could be harmed. But since that's rather far-fetched & unlikely to happen, there's really no genuine problem.

Swarovski crystal beads expose you to no risk when worn, just as drinking champagne from a crystal champagne flute is not risky.

Regards
Bernadette

[Caitlin]

Softflex is the only wire I use also, but I don't care for knotting it. There is a special knot for knotting softflex, the 8 knot and it is here.

Noone was ever poisoned by using leaded glass crystal goblets, so I know leaded glass beads are alright. Even if a kid swallows one, it won't poison. I doubt if it will poison if the glass is ground up either. If ingested, it would be bad because of the powdered glass but, not the lead, because the lead has to be released from the chemical compound which has it tied up into the glass- you would have to be able to reduce the glass to its components and nothing in your everyday arsenal of chemicals would do that.

[knotty panda]

I'm sorry, but I have to err on the side of caution. I know too many vendors who require their employees to handle swarovski with protective gloves and too many children who but things they shouldn't in their mouths. Didn't they used to say there was no danger in Fiestaware? It's just not a risk I'm willing to take.