Bead Spinners & Looms

Bead looms are versatile tools used in bead weaving to create intricate patterns and designs. They consist of a frame with warp threads stretched across it, creating a grid-like structure. Beads are then woven into the warp threads using a needle and thread, allowing for precise placement and alignment. Bead looms provide a stable and controlled working surface, making them ideal for creating bracelets, necklaces, belts, and other flat beadwork projects. They offer endless possibilities for creativity, allowing artisans to explore various bead colours, shapes, and patterns to craft unique and beautiful pieces of jewellery and art.

Beading Loom Workers Love Bead Spinners

Loom workers also often use a bead spinner in conjunction with their bead loom to expedite the process of loading beads onto the loom. Bead spinners are particularly helpful when working with many small beads that need to be threaded onto the warp threads. By placing the beads into the bead spinner’s bowl and spinning it, the beads are quickly collected onto the needle, which can then be easily transferred onto the loom. This saves time and effort compared to threading each bead individually, especially when working on complex and intricate designs. The combination of a bead spinner and a bead loom provides an efficient workflow for loom workers, allowing them to focus more on the weaving process and creating their desired designs.

Are bead spinners worth it?

Bead spinners are an absolute game-changer for beading enthusiasts and jewellery makers. We can’t recommend them highly enough! The convenience and time-saving benefits they offer are truly remarkable.

First and foremost, bead spinners make the process of stringing beads incredibly efficient. Gone are the days of painstakingly threading each bead one by one. With a bead spinner, you can effortlessly load multiple beads onto the needle at once by simply spinning the bowl. This not only saves you an immense amount of time but also reduces hand fatigue and frustration.

Bead spinners are particularly valuable when working with small beads that have tiny holes. These beads can be notoriously challenging to thread individually, but with a bead spinner, it’s a breeze. The spinner’s needle collects the beads effortlessly, allowing you to focus on the creative aspect of your project rather than struggling with the mundane task of threading.

Bead spinners are also versatile tools that work well with various bead sizes and shapes. Whether you’re working with seed beads, round beads, or even irregularly shaped beads, a bead spinner can handle them all. This versatility makes it an essential tool for any beader, regardless of their preferred style or project.

Not only do bead spinners save time and effort, but they also provide a smoother and more enjoyable beading experience. They enhance your workflow, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the creative process without getting bogged down by a boring tedious task.

Investing in a bead spinner is a decision you won’t regret. It’s a valuable tool that streamlines your beading process, saves you time and energy, and elevates your overall crafting experience. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced beader, a bead spinner will quickly become an indispensable part of your toolkit. Treat yourself to the convenience and joy of using a bead spinner, and you’ll wonder how you ever beaded without one!

How to Choose the best Bead Spinner

Choosing the best bead spinner involves considering various factors to ensure it meets your specific needs and preferences. Bead spinners are handy tools for stringing beads quickly and efficiently.

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting the best bead spinner:

Bead Size Compatibility:

Ensure the bead spinner you choose is compatible with the size of beads you typically work with. Some spinners, typically smaller and lighter weight spinners, are designed for smaller seed beads. On the other hand, some spinners can handle larger beads. Check the product specifications for bead size compatibility.

Spinner Type:

Bead spinners come in different types, including light weight small spinners and tabletop spinners. Small spinners are more portable and convenient for small projects, while the larger tabletop spinners are ideal for larger volumes of beads and more frequent use. Choose the type that suits your workspace and project requirements.

Material and Build Quality:

Look for a bead spinner made from durable materials like wood or high-quality plastic. A well-constructed spinner will last longer and provide a smoother bead-spinning experience.

Ease of Use:

Consider how easy the bead spinner is to use. Look for features such as a comfortable grip, smooth rotation, and clear instructions. Test the spinner if possible, to see how smoothly it operates. The cheapest and smallest spinners will require more work to maintain the spin. Whereas the heavier larger spinners will build more momentum making them spin for longer with less effort.

Speed and Efficiency:

Battery powered or so-called electric bead spinners bead spinners are the best option for ease of use. Simply switch on the spinner and it will do most of the work for you!

Bead Capacity:

Check the bead spinner’s capacity, which refers to the amount of beads it can hold at once. A larger capacity can save you time by reducing the need to reload beads frequently. While other spinners have multiple bowls or optional removable trays to make switching between colours of beads quick and easy.

Compatibility with Beading Needles:

Remember that spinners need a specific curved needle to operate. Most spinners come with one or more needles, while others do not. Spinner needles are interchangeable between devices and spare needles are readily available. Remember, the needle included in lower cost spinners may be less rigid than the needles sold separately, which tend to be a more premium product. Over time, you may need to replace a needle that becomes bent, broken, damaged or lost. But that’s no problem. Beads N Crystals stocks bead spinner needles which are pretty much always in stock for immediate dispatch.

Accessories and Attachments:

Consider if the spinner comes with additional accessories or attachments, such as extra needles, bead bowls, or containers for holding beads, bowl lids etc. These can add value to your purchase.

Price and Budget:

Bead spinners come in a range of price point. Look for options that offer the features you need within your budget. Be mindful that more expensive models may have additional features, accessories and durability advantages.

Warranty and Customer Support:

Beads N Crystals is the direct importer and distributor of all the spinners we stock and as such we fully back our products on quality, durability and suitability for their purpose. If you have any questions, comments or require any returns or replacements under warranty, we will handle the process quickly and efficiently. Our aim is to ensure you get to continue beading without delay.

Personal Preference:

Ultimately, choose a bead spinner that feels comfortable in your hand and suits your personal preferences in terms of design and ergonomics.

By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision when choosing the best bead spinner for your beading projects. Keep in mind that the best bead spinner for one person may not be the best for another, so prioritise the features and characteristics that matter most to you.

Best Electric Bead Spinner

Our electric bead spinner, or more accurately, battery powered bead spinner, is a fantastic choice for several reasons. Firstly, the powered motor makes bead spinning much faster and easier, not to mention more enjoyable, than a manual spinner. Secondly, it comes with two durable curved spinner needles and a spool of thread. Thirdly it offers reversible spin direction, making it left-handed friendly! Best of all, the kit includes not one, but THREE spinner bowls AND lids for quick switching between beads!

The powered bead spinner is by far our favourite spinner as it includes all the accessories you could possibly need while also offering the most user-friendly bead threading experience ever! It’s an absolute must for serious seed beaders!

But what about mains powered electric spinners?

We strongly advise exercising caution if considering a mains powered electric bead spinner. To our knowledge, there are no plug-in bead spinners in Australia that meet the electrical safety standard. If you’re aware of any, please let us know so we can update this page. But as at September 2023, we’re unable to locate any such devices in the Australian market.

For that reason, we recommend choosing a battery-powered bead spinner over an electric mains-powered product. Here are some reasons to consider a battery-powered bead spinner over a mains powered device:

Safety Concerns: As mentioned, cheap imports likely do not meet local electrical safety standards, potentially posing safety hazards. Battery-powered spinners eliminate this concern because they don’t require a connection to the mains electricity supply. This can be particularly important for personal safety and avoiding electrical accidents. Not to mention legal and insurance implications.

Portability: Battery-powered bead spinners are highly portable and can be used anywhere, even when there is no access to electrical outlets. This makes them ideal for crafters who like to work on projects at different locations, such as workshops, crafting events, or while traveling.

No Cord Hassles: With a battery-powered spinner, you don’t have to deal with power cords and finding suitable outlets or international plug adaptors. This can be especially beneficial if you have limited space or prefer a clutter-free workspace.

Flexibility: Battery-powered spinners provide flexibility in terms of where and how you work. You’re not tied to a specific location or power source, allowing you to work comfortably in various settings.

Quiet Operation: Battery-powered spinners tend to operate quietly compared to electric mains-powered models. This can be important if noise is a concern in your workspace or if you prefer a quieter crafting experience.

Ease of Use: Battery-powered spinners are often designed for ease of use. They typically have simple controls and don’t require complicated setup procedures, making them accessible for beginners.

Avoid Voltage Fluctuations: In areas with unreliable or fluctuating power supplies, battery-powered spinners provide a consistent and stable power source, ensuring that your work is not interrupted by power outages or voltage fluctuations.

Reduced Maintenance: Battery-powered spinners generally require less maintenance compared to electric mains-powered models. There are no cords to worry about, and you don’t need to be concerned about electrical components or wiring issues, and battery motors don’t require periodical oiling.

Battery powered spinners can be operated for long periods on good quality common alkaline batteries, or good quality rechargeable batteries.

Where to buy a Bead Spinner in Australia

If you’re looking for a great selection of bead spinners, Beads N Crystals has you covered. From small basic economy spinners, to powered deluxe spinner electric model with multiple bowls, wooden bead spinners and more, we have the bead spinners you’re looking for. Spare bead spinner needles are also available and a handy thing to have in your beading kit.

How to choose a bead loom

Beads looms come in a number of different styles which offer different functionality depending on the type of beading you want to do. We’ve put together this guide to help you decide what bead loom to buy.

• BeadSmith Bead Loom – This Loom is a popular choice among beaders due to its versatility, low price, and user-friendly design. It’s an ideal first-loom for anyone new o loom work. The loom allows for varying widths and includes some practice threads and beads.
• BeadSmith Large Bead Loom – This is essentially the same as the loom above, but it’s bigger. Make longer and wider creations with the larger space this loom allows. It also includes threads and seed beads along with basic instructions to get you started.
• LoomEEZ Miyuki Loom – This loom is designed to work best with the size 11 Miyuki Delica seed beads. The Miyuki beads are cylindrical so they sit together neatly without spaces making them the best option for full-on colour designs, image and text work. You can create a grid format image which allows great detail for words and pictures in your designs. Included are the Delica beads and threads required to make the bracelet shown on the pack.
• The Endless Loom by Deb Moffett-Hall – The endless loom is just that, it creates an endless bracelet in a single piece. Using Loom-Bands and threading your beads onto that with stretchy seed beading cord, you can create a seamless bracelet with no clasps, no warp threads and no tie-offs. Adjust the size of the bracelet by changing the spacer rods between the loom ends. Kit includes a variety of different rod lengths and the parts are all kept in the included storage wrap.
• The Ricks Bead Loom – This sturdy wooden loom may look complicated at first glance, but it’s quite the opposite! Wind the screw to adjust the spacing for the desired project length and you can have as many or as few warps in your design as you like. The ingenious design of the Ricks bead loom allows you to run all the threads to just two warp threads at each end. Unlike pretty much every other loom on the market, you don’t have a bunch of thread ends to deal with at both ends! It makes ending and clasping so much easier!