Supplies |
Order # | Quantity |
| Glass rods | shop glass | 1 |
| Bead Separator | 701-406 | 1 |
| Bead-making mandrel | 701-408 | 1 |
| Hot Head torch | 500-118 | 1 |
| Graphite paddle | 701-401 | 1 |
| Tool rest | 111-631 | 1 |
| Cooling blanket | 500-117 | 1 |
| Small bowl of water | 1 | |
| MAPP gas (available at your local hardware/home improvement store) | 1 |
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| Steps: | |
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To prepare the bead-making mandrel, make sure it is clean, then dip it into the Bead Separator, covering as much of the mandrel as will be used to form the bead (fig. a). |
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To light the Hot Head torch, simply turn on the MAPP gas, then light the torch. Adjust the flame size as needed using the regulator knob on the torch. Position the bead-making mandrel at the very end of the flame to dry the Bead Separator; simultaneously position the glass rod at the top of the flame to begin warming the glass, then move the rod directly above the blue area of the flame (fig. b). |
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| When the glass rod starts to slump, position the end of the rod on the bead-making mandrel and begin turning the mandrel away from you with your fingertips (fig. c). (You will eventually find the most efficient and comfortable hand position for turning the mandrel.) As you turn the mandrel, the molten glass will start to build up on itself. |  |
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Continue to rotate the mandrel, adding more layers of glass to the bead (fig. d). Here, we started with a black rod for the base, then switched to a yellow rod to add the stripe. |
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If the bead starts to lose its shape, remove it from the flame, and while it’s still glowing, roll it back and forth along the graphite paddle to form the bead shape (fig. e). |
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Position the bead back in the flame. Roll the mandrel back and forth between your fingertips and allow the flame to continue to shape the bead (fig. f). |
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| If necessary, remove the bead from the flame and roll both bead ends along the edge of the graphite paddle, creating a smooth finish on the ends (fig. g). |  |
| Continue to shape the bead as needed by alternately rolling the glowing bead back and forth across the graphite paddle (fig. h), and returning the bead to the flame, rolling the mandrel back and forth. |  |
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Once the bead has achieved the desired shape and size, continue to rotate the bead on the mandrel. When the bead loses its glow, place the mandrel between the two cooling blankets (fig. i) or in a kiln. Please Note: Beads larger than 14mm should always be annealed in a kiln. Allow the bead to cool completely for one hour. |
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| Place the bead, still mounted on the mandrel, into a bowl of water and let it sit for 30–45 minutes (fig. j). |  |
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Gently pull the bead off the mandrel. Put the bead back on the mandrel and move it back and forth along the mandrel to remove any Bead Separator that may be left inside the bead (fig. k). |
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