It is a very enjoyable craft hobby, making glass beads! They are ideal in making beautiful pieces of jewelry and decoration which are colorful and unique. These are some of the essential supplies you need set up if you're looking to get started with this fun hobby! This guide covers everything you need to know to get started making glass beads!
Next, you need a kiln/torch depending on your method. A kiln is a specific purpose oven that can become extremely hot and allows you to form the glass into pretty little beads. If you select a torch, it will also warm the glass so that you can shape it into the forms you want.
It is the same thing with knowledge: you should know how to work with hot glass. That means you need to read or watch videos showing how to safely handle the glass and make your beads. What you do will greatly improve your bead-making experience.
Your Bead Material: Glass Rods: These are the building blocks for your beads. They are available in various sizes, shapes and colors which makes your beads look interesting. Glass rod widths range from about 2mm to 10mm, so you can select the size that works for your designs.
This is also where you will need to get mandrels, which are tools for shaping the glass rods into beads. Mandrels also come in different lengths and assuredly thickness, but are often made of stainless steel or tungsten. 7. Select Your Mandrel: An important aspect of ensuring your beads are of the correct size.
Hard Glass: As hard glass, we use borosilicate glass. It is made with materials and has a composition that is much stronger and more durable than soft glass, allowing it to withstand more heat and stress. Hard glass can be more expensive, though, so you might want to start with soft glass until you feel more confident.
Lampwork Glass Press A lampwork glass press is a hand tool that allows you to shape glass rods into shapes and sizes in a relatively short time. This will speed up your work and allow you to make various types of beads.