After you’ve mastered the art of making simple spherical glass beads, you can move on to creating beads in a variety of shapes. Here are three of the simplest to make.
How to Make a Cylindrical Bead
Steps:
Begin by making a simple molten bead on a mandrel. The molten bead should be removed from the flame.
Lightly press the bead on the marver. Keep the mandrel parallel to the marver’s surface. If you press too hard, you’ll end up with a flat place on the bead.
Back and forth against the marver, roll the bead once or twice.
Return the bead to the flame and keep it there until the glass glows evenly and slightly.
Steps 2–4 should be repeated until the bead has a regular cylindrical shape.
Continue to rotate the mandrel until it stops shining – you’ll know when it does because you’ll have to apply more pressure to form the bead.
In a fiber blanket or heated vermiculite, cool the bead slowly.
Tips:
As you rotate the mandrel, keep in mind that when glass is heated to its fluid condition, it tries to draw itself into a sphere. As you mold the bead into different forms, you’ll be up against this.
How to Make a Bicone
Steps:
Begin by making a simple molten bead on a mandrel. The molten bead should be removed from the flame.
Lightly press the bead on the marver. To mold the bottom half of the bead into a cone, hold the mandrel at an angle to the marver’s surface. If you press too hard, you’ll end up with a flat place on the bead.
Continue shaping this end of the bead until you achieve the desired form.
Return the bead to the flame to heat the other end of the bead so it may be shaped.
Lightly press the bead on the marver. To form the upper half of the bead into a cone, hold the mandrel at an angle to the marver’s surface. If you press too hard, you’ll end up with a flat place on the bead.
When the bead becomes more difficult to shape and stops glowing, pay attention. Cool the bead carefully in a fiber blanket or heated vermiculite if you’re happy with the shape.
How to Make a Pressed Bead
Steps:
Begin by making a simple molten bead on a mandrel. The molten bead should be removed from the flame.
Lightly press the bead on the marver. It’s not a good idea to roll it. When pressing the bead, keep the mandrel parallel to the marver’s surface to ensure smooth sides.
To remove the chill marks, return the bead to the flame.
To make a disk, press the bead on the marver on two opposite sides, on four sides to make a cube, or any other angle combination you can think of.
After pressing each side to remove the cold marks, return the bead to the flame.
When the bead becomes more difficult to shape and stops glowing, pay attention. Cool the bead carefully in a fiber blanket or heated vermiculite if you’re happy with the shape.
Tips:
Keep in mind that pushing hot glass against a chilly shaping tool causes little ripples known as chill marks. You must heat the bead just enough to eliminate these marks after you’ve achieved the correct shape.
Overall Caution:
When using a torch, a lot of heat and carbon monoxide is produced. By working outside or using an exhaust fan to ventilate your work area, you can avoid a buildup of both of these.
Keep all combustible materials away from your heatproof work surface.
Molten glass has a temperature of over 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can inflict severe burns if it comes into touch with it. Even though the glass does not appear to be hot, it can nevertheless be hundreds of degrees.
Always keep an eye out for the heated end of your glass rod.
When beads are released, they can form harmful dust when they dry. Wipe up any dry bead release with a moist towel and keep your work area clean.
Long hair should be tied back, and loose-fitting sleeves should be avoided.
Glass that has been improperly heated or cooled can explode and shatter, sending glass fragments flying. In your job environment, always wear safety glasses and shoes.
