How to Make Stained Glass Beads

Making beads from stained glass scraps requires a basic knowledge of stained glass tools and bead-making techniques. Stained glass beads can be used to make jewelry or as embellishments soldered to stained glass art pieces. Stained glass beads can also be strung onto fabric projects or used for hair beading.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plumber's torch
• Safety glasses
• Stained glass scraps
• Pliers or tweezers
• Glass rods or mandrels
• Parallel mashers
• Glass cutting wheel
• Safety glasses
• Parallel mashers

1. 
   Small glass scraps can be turned into beautiful beads for jewelry making.

   Put on safety glasses. Cut the stained glass scraps into small pieces with the cutting wheel. One to 2-inch size scraps work best.

2. Hold glass scraps with the pliers and turn torch on. Use a low flame to prevent heat shock to the glass, and swipe glass back and forth through the flame.

3. Heat the mandrel rod with the torch flame.

4. Attach the warmed stained glass scrap to the mandrel by heating both together under the torch flame.

5. Fold glass after it visibly beings to bend. Use the parallel mashers to squeeze the glass into a bead-like cylinder shape.

Resources

• Expet Village stained glass informational video
• Wonder How To stained glass bead information and video