How to Make Hand Blown Glass Beads

Glass beads are used when making many forms of jewelry and wind chimes. Creating glass beads enables designers to select the color and shape for personalized jewelry making. Glass beads can be shaped in a host of sizes and shapes. Glass beads are durable, and can be easily strung on jewelry or craft wire. Here are some helpful tips when working with glass beads.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plumber's torch
• Glass blowing tube
• Metal wire or mandrel rod
• Glass rods in desired colors
• Release compound
• Safety eyewear
• Bead round
• Jewelry chain or wire
• Jewelry findings, such as a closure clasp

1. Coat the glass rod with a release compound before firing with heat.

2. Turn on the torch and set on the highest heat setting.

3. Heat the mandrel rod until a color change is visible.

4. Select a glass rod, and heat until a molten ball is visible.

5. Drop molten ball onto the end of the blowing tube.

6. Blow through the tube while rotating.

7. Rotate the blowing tube over heat. Stop rotating after reaching the desired bead size.

8. Fill the bead round with the melting glass.

9. Allow glass beads to cool inside the round overnight.

10. Release the glass bead from the bead round gently. Pry the bead from the round with a dull knife if necessary. Repeat the process for each bead.

Resources

• Jewel Info for more details