Where can I find large 10-to-1, 8-to-1 connector end bars?

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Where can I find large 10-to-1, 8-to-1 connector end bars?

by Angela Robison
(Madison, Alabama)

I recently designed and created a black choker necklace for one of my customers, using 5-strand spacer bars and 5-to-1 connector end bars, with 5 strands of black seed beads and the 5-hole spacer bars spread evenly around. The 5-to-1 connector end bars worked out great and she absolutely loves her new choker. So much that she now wants me to create a bigger one in brown color.

I was able to find the long 10-hole spacers online through Fire Mountain Gems, as well as through other sources, but I am having difficulty finding the end bars, with 8 or 10 holes on one side and 1 hole on the other side.

Does anyone know where I might find these? Or do you have another design alternative you could suggest, in how I end/connect the choker ends? Oh yeah, and she wants this one in copper or gold so the connector bars and spacers have to be copper or gold. I used silver for the black choker.

Any help or suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks so much!!
Angela Robison
AWR Designs

Comments for
Where can I find large 10-to-1, 8-to-1 connector end bars?

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Creating your own connector end bars?
by: Rena

Angela,

I've often found that I can fiddle with raw materials to create a good alternative for components I can't find anywhere.

You could use your 5-to-1 connector end bar as a pattern / mold, and just expand the design to the number of holes you need.

For example, could you make your own connector end bars from wire? You'd need a fairly hard wire so it wouldn't pull out of shape.

Or what about polymer clay or metal clay for a material to make the end bars?

Or what if you cut them from a sheet of copper and punched the holes you need, then filed / tumbled them to smooth off any sharp edges?

Large Connector Bars
by: Pegi

I now make all of my own findings. This would be pretty easy to make from the new Sterling Silver Pro version of PMC. You could make a mold and then create a what you need.
You could also make it from wire. I might look different but would be pretty. You would need at least half-hard wire which you can tumble after its complete to fully harden the wire.
Start by sketching a couple of designs, thinking about how you would work it, to decide what and how to make it.
If you need any help let me know here and I'll see what we can do.

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