How to Drill Glass Beads
In order to use glass beads for jewelry, key chain decorations or hanging rearview mirror decorations, you will need to drill the beads so you can run thread or wire through them. Although many types of pre-drilled glass beads are available, you can also acquire beads to make jewelry and decorations that have not been drilled. Drilling glass beads is not an easy process, but with a bit of practice most people can learn to quickly drill beads.
Things You'll Need
- Drill press
- 1 mm or 2 mm diamond-tipped drill bit
- Small tray
- Water
- Silly Putty or moldable clay
- Fine-tipped marker
- Protective goggles
- C-clamps
- Fine grit sandpaper
Instructions
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1
Place a small amount of Silly Putty or moldable clay in the bottom of a shallow tray. Press the glass bead far enough into the clay that it will not easily move.
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2
Use a fine-tipped permanent marker to make a mark on top of the bead. You will use this mark to line up the drill. Make sure that the mark is centered on the bead. Otherwise, the hole will not go through the bead's center.
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3
Fill the tray with water. The water will keep the bead cool and prevent it from shattering during the drilling process.
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4
Place the tray on the platform of the drill press. Carefully move the tray until the tip of the drill is lined up with the mark on the bead. Use C-clamps to secure the tray on the base of the drill press so it does not move during drilling.
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5
Lower the drill bit, drilling a bit at the time. Remove the drill bit from the bead to allow water to flow into the hole. This will allow the inside of the bead to remain cool. Continue this process until you have drilled through the entire bead.
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6
Remove the bead from the tray. Dry with a soft cloth or a paper towel. Lightly sand the entry and exit points to remove sharp edges.
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