The Bead Bandit: make masculine beaded men's jewelry!

Well, hello there, bloglandia. Do you ever feel like most jewelry findings are designed to look feminine? Even if they aren’t frilly or covered with hearts and flowers, there is often something innately delicate about most DIY jewelry findings. When you want to make beaded men’s jewelry, it can be a problem. Crimp beads and bullion just don’t look that tough! Luckily, jewelry designer Jeff Fulkerson invented a solution: the Bead Bandit.

A strand of 8mm round beads make a simple, masculine bracelet when finished with a large clasp and Bead Bandits.

This patent-protected device is made of two pieces that screw together, hiding the crimp bead or knot on the end of your beading wire or cord under a burly piece of metal.

Silver plated Bead Bandits

Bead Bandits are really easy to use: just unscrew the two pieces and string the small piece onto your beading wire. Knot or crimp the wire, trim, and then screw the cover into place.

I found it easier to crimp than to knot the Beadalon, and with either method, I’d recommend adding a dab of glue just to make sure the crimp or knot doesn’t work its way loose over time. Attach a clasp with jump rings and you’re all done!

For a complete list of parts for this bracelet, see our Design Gallery!

Simple solutions are often the most elegant… or in this case, most manly.

Congratulations on your invention, Jeff! ~ Cindy