How to Make Your Own Glass Beads from Scratch
Set up your area., Arrange the rest of the equipment for easy access., Before you make a bead, prepare the mandrels., If a powdered bead release is to be used, mix it according to the manufacturer's instructions., When dry, check each mandrel to...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Set up your area.
Good work always starts with having a good workspace.
Clean up an area to work on.
Pick up any objects that you wouldn't like to be damaged.
Clamp the torch head and gas canister to the table (follow instructions provided by the manufacturer). -
Step 2: Arrange the rest of the equipment for easy access.
Make sure you can get to everything without reaching across the torch (even when off it will retain heat). , Take each one and rub firmly with wire wool.
This cleans the metal and helps the bead release adhere to the surface. , Dip each mandrel in the bead release and leave to dry.
Some bead releases can be dried in the flame; however, if yours does not say to do this, then leave to air dry, as it may crack otherwise. , Discard any mandrels with cracked bead release because if the glass comes in contact with the mandrel, it will stick and will likely be impossible to remove. , Bring up a lit match from underneath to light it. , A bushy flame means you have too much gas. , Take it into your dominant hand and, holding it horizontally, slowly wave it in and out of the flame just above the tip of the blue cone.
If you heat the glass too quickly then it may "shock" or shatter. ,, Try to keep the glass in the flame and keep rotating and so that it doesn't droop or cool, warm the mandrel in the flame just behind the glass.
Hold the mandrel horizontally. ,, At the same time, start rolling the mandrel slowly away from yourself. , The rest of the glass rod will slowly soften as you roll more onto the mandrel. , You will get a thin string of glass, just allow the flame to melt through it.
Place your glass rod onto the rod rest, out of the way.
You may want to switch your mandrel into your dominant hand at this point.
To do this, carefully bring the mandrel in front of the torch.
Never try reach over the flame. , Add any decoration or other colours. , Put the bead and mandrel in between two sheets of fiber blanket, or into a pot of vermiculite to cool.
Be careful not to disturb the bead – if it cools too fast it may crack.
To check if your bead is cool enough to go into the fiber blanket or vermiculite without damaging it, hold the bead under your work area (don't forget to rotate) and see if it is still glowing – as soon as the glow fades, put it into the fiber blanket or vermiculite. , If you have trouble removing the bead, grip the mandrel with a pair of vise pliers and try to twist and pull the bead off. , Then scrub the inside with a bead reamer or a pipe cleaner.
Now your bead is ready to use.
If wished, surface treatments such as etching can also be used at this point. -
Step 3: Before you make a bead
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Step 4: prepare the mandrels.
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Step 5: If a powdered bead release is to be used
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Step 6: mix it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Step 7: When dry
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Step 8: check each mandrel to make sure that the coating is even and intact.
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Step 9: Turn on the gas to your torch head.
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Step 10: Adjust the flame until you have a sharp edged blue cone.
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Step 11: Select the color of glass you want to start with.
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Step 12: When the tip begins to glow
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Step 13: leave the glass in the flame a little longer
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Step 14: then start rotating the rod as a ball starts to form at the tip.
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Step 15: When ready to start forming your bead
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Step 16: take the mandrel with your other hand.
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Step 17: Carefully alter the position of the rod in your hand so that you are holding it like a pencil.
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Step 18: Gently press the ball of molten glass through the flame and onto the mandrel.
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Step 19: Stay in the flame.
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Step 20: When you have added enough glass
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Step 21: pull away the glass rod (remember to keep the mandrel rotating in the flame).
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Step 22: To round up your bead
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Step 23: keep the mandrel rotating in the flame until a smooth form is achieved.
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Step 24: When finished
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Step 25: slowly remove the bead from the flame (remember to keep rotating) when the glow fades.
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Step 26: When cool
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Step 27: soak the bead and mandrel in water to remove the bead release.
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Step 28: Leave the bead to soak in water.
Detailed Guide
Good work always starts with having a good workspace.
Clean up an area to work on.
Pick up any objects that you wouldn't like to be damaged.
Clamp the torch head and gas canister to the table (follow instructions provided by the manufacturer).
Make sure you can get to everything without reaching across the torch (even when off it will retain heat). , Take each one and rub firmly with wire wool.
This cleans the metal and helps the bead release adhere to the surface. , Dip each mandrel in the bead release and leave to dry.
Some bead releases can be dried in the flame; however, if yours does not say to do this, then leave to air dry, as it may crack otherwise. , Discard any mandrels with cracked bead release because if the glass comes in contact with the mandrel, it will stick and will likely be impossible to remove. , Bring up a lit match from underneath to light it. , A bushy flame means you have too much gas. , Take it into your dominant hand and, holding it horizontally, slowly wave it in and out of the flame just above the tip of the blue cone.
If you heat the glass too quickly then it may "shock" or shatter. ,, Try to keep the glass in the flame and keep rotating and so that it doesn't droop or cool, warm the mandrel in the flame just behind the glass.
Hold the mandrel horizontally. ,, At the same time, start rolling the mandrel slowly away from yourself. , The rest of the glass rod will slowly soften as you roll more onto the mandrel. , You will get a thin string of glass, just allow the flame to melt through it.
Place your glass rod onto the rod rest, out of the way.
You may want to switch your mandrel into your dominant hand at this point.
To do this, carefully bring the mandrel in front of the torch.
Never try reach over the flame. , Add any decoration or other colours. , Put the bead and mandrel in between two sheets of fiber blanket, or into a pot of vermiculite to cool.
Be careful not to disturb the bead – if it cools too fast it may crack.
To check if your bead is cool enough to go into the fiber blanket or vermiculite without damaging it, hold the bead under your work area (don't forget to rotate) and see if it is still glowing – as soon as the glow fades, put it into the fiber blanket or vermiculite. , If you have trouble removing the bead, grip the mandrel with a pair of vise pliers and try to twist and pull the bead off. , Then scrub the inside with a bead reamer or a pipe cleaner.
Now your bead is ready to use.
If wished, surface treatments such as etching can also be used at this point.
About the Author
Jason Cooper
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in creative arts and beyond.
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