How to Clean Lampwork Beads
After lampwork beads are created in the flame of a torch and cooled down to room temperature (annealed), debris from the bead release remains in the opening of the bead. This bead release is what enables the steel pipe (mandrel) to separate from the glass. The release looks like a powdery substance and causes the hole of the bead to be very small, making it difficult to string the beads into jewelry. Use a lampwork tool, along with a few household supplies, to clean your lampwork beads.
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Instructions
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Remove your lampwork beads from your kiln or bucket of vermiculite.
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Place your bead under running water and grasp the bead with a pair of pliers. As the water runs over the bead, twist the pliers until the bead is free.
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3
Soak your beads in a container of water for approximately 20 minutes. This step gives the bead release time to loosen up.
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4
Stick a bead reamer inside the hole of your bead, while keeping your bead under water. Circle the tool and move it up and down to get all of the debris out. Your bead should no longer display the powdery bead release residue when properly cleaned.
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Run water over your cleaned beads and then leave them out to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
When you're finished cleaning your beads, cautiously drain the water, but keep the debris at the bottom of the container so that you can wipe it out with paper towels. This way you keep the solid material from going down your pipes.
Always clean your lampwork beads under water to avoid inhaling the harmful bead release dust.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bead on a plastic wire image by cirikate from Fotolia.com
