How to Decorate Glass Beads

A bead can be decorated simply or elaborately. Here's how to make two elements - dots and lines - that you can use singly or together to decorate your bead. This eHow begins after you've completed step 13 of the Related eHow "How to Make Glass Beads."

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Work Boots
• Exhaust Fans
• Torch Kits
• Vermiculite
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fire Extinguishers
• Mandrels
• Safety Goggles
• Workbenches
• Safety Goggles

Making Dots

1. Start with a molten bead on a mandrel, shaped or not. Hold the mandrel in your left hand (if you're right-handed).

2. Have a glass rod in your right hand.

3. Move the bead to just outside the flame of your torch, with the flame between you and the bead.

4. Heat the tip of the glass rod until it's just glowing.

5. Make a dot on the bead by touching the molten tip of the glass rod to the bead and immediately pulling the rod back to stretch it through the flame. The flame will cut through the stretched portion of the rod.

6. Return the bead to the flame briefly to melt down the point of glass remaining in the dot.

7. Repeat the process to make as many dots as you like.

8. When you've added as many dots to the bead as desired, you may return the bead to the flame to melt down the dots slightly, or flush with the bead's surface.

9. Cool the bead slowly in a fiber blanket or heated vermiculite. Or, if you have a kiln, go directly to the annealing process.

Making Lines or Trails

10. Start with a molten bead on a mandrel, shaped or not. Hold the mandrel in your left hand (if you're right-handed).

11. Have a glass rod in your right hand.

12. Move the bead to just outside the flame of your torch, with the flame between you and the bead.

13. Heat the last 3/8 inch or so of the glass rod until it's just glowing.

14. Touch the molten tip of the rod to the hot (but not molten) bead and pull it back slightly to stretch the glass from the rod and make it thinner.

15. Lay the stretched glass gently along the bead parallel to the mandrel to make a lengthwise line or trail.

16. At the end of the bead, push the rod down toward the bead and then pull it back quickly and cut it off with the flame. The same technique can be used to make a spiral line around the bead if you rotate the bead on its mandrel.

17. Return the bead to the flame briefly to melt down the point of glass remaining at the end of the line.

18. Repeat the process to make as many lines as you like.

19. When your bead is decorated, you may return the bead to the flame to melt down the dots flush with the bead's surface - only if that's the effect you want.

20. Cool the bead slowly in a fiber blanket or heated vermiculite. Or, if you have a kiln, go directly to the annealing process.

Tips & Warnings

• You can make smaller dots or thinner lines by using a stringer instead of a rod - but remember you'll be working farther out in the flame, because the thin stringer melts more easily.
• You can shape the bead after decorating to get more interesting patterns.
• Using a torch will create a lot of heat and carbon monoxide. Prevent a buildup of both of these by working outside or ventilating your work area with an exhaust fan.
• Always keep your heatproof work surface clear of all flammable material.
• Molten glass exceeds 1,000 degrees F and can cause severe burns on contact. Even glass that doesn't look hot can still be hundreds of degrees.
• Always remember which end of your glass rod is hot.
• Tie back any long hair and avoid wearing loose-fitting sleeves.
• Improperly heated or cooled glass can pop and shatter, sending glass pieces flying. Always wear safety glasses and shoes in your work area.

[Mommie]

on 7/14/2007 I need help trying to make rhinestones stick to a stemmed glass. I have try a glue gun but when the glass hit water the stones come off. Can someone please help.

on 11/22/2005 Keep a small jar of pure aloe juice to which has been added pure essential oil of lavender (both obtainable at health food stores) in the fridge. Apply directly to a burn for cooling and healing.