You are here: Home / Glass Beads

Custom Handmade Glass Beads

April 15, 2011 By ksthebea Leave a Comment

Article by Mike Tucker

Creating handmade lampwork beads is a very satisfying and unique form of art. Around the planet collectors proudly showcase their distinctive glass beads and beaders creations featuring lampwork beads are worn by millions!

From a solid strip of glass on a hot flame, it becomes molten in front of your eyes and can then be manipulated by the artist to produce a stunning intriguing lampwork bead. The bead may then become an integral half of a chunk of jewellery, worn proudly for several years and passed down as a heirloom for generations to come.

Glass beads date from at least 2500 B.C. There’s probably a bigger assortment of beads made of glass than of any other material. Glass allows for the large range of colours and shapes that can be created from this very versatile substance. The colours in glass return from various metals and oxides that go into its making, as an example: a wide selection of colours are possible with the addition of metals.

The process of creating glass beads will be by machine or by hand. In all cases the glass must be melted, formed and then cooled slowly: the glass must be allowed to even out before it sets fully or it can break suddenly and for no apparent reason, even months later. Glass for beadmaking is sold in rods or canes, which are obtainable in an exceedingly big selection of opaque, translucent and clear colors. To make handmade glass beads, glass canes or rods are manipulated by heating them into a liquid state.

They are then shaped and cooled into a completely different shape. Soft glass is usually recommended for making beads as a result of it melts at comparatively low temperatures. They are individually created by melting rods of colored glass in a hot temperature torch flame. A way in beadmaking, in which beads are created by twisting or wrapping hot glass around a rod or mandrel, is one among the oldest ways that to form glass beads. It’s also referred to as lampworking. Some fused glass can be made in an exceedingly kiln, while others will be created by removing molten glass from a furnace and molding or shaping it. Molded beads are made from terribly thick glass rods heated into molten glass. They are also called pressed glass beads.

Lampwork Glass Beads are a modern day technique of glass manipulation employed by glass bead manufacturers not solely in the United States however also in varied components of the world as of today. Since glass bead making dates back to virtually 30,000 years, there are necessary completely different schools of thoughts that have developed over the past centuries concerning this unique methodology of remodeling glass into additional refined and stunning accessories.

If you are looking for the original Lampwork glass beads, then you’re most likely one in every of the chosen few that are trapped into the sweetness and splendor of those Lampwork beads that stand out together of the simplest if not the simplest college of glass bead creatingoffered in the entire world as of today.

About the Author

For great deals on Handmade Lampwork Beads Visit our site to get the current sales. Lampwork beads, supplies and books all on sale now.

Find More Glass Beads Articles

Filed Under: Glass Beads Tagged With: , , ,

Making Glass Beads

April 15, 2011 By ksthebea Leave a Comment

Article by Gary Capps

The technique and technology of making hand-crafted glass bead is thought of as one of the oldest creative hobbies of humans. Egyptian faience beads are glass-like beads which come from a kind of clay bead that has a self-forming vitreous coating. They’re maybe the earliest from traditional Egyptians. In some cultures, glass objects were reserved for royalty. Owning a glass object is closely associated with owning other splendid objects. If you can afford it, it’s yours. What are glass beads anyway? Glass beads are beads made from glass. They’re occasionally called lamp work beads. This sort of beads can be poured into moulds, cut and polished as faux gemstones, and can be stretched and pulled into any shape you wish. These beads can be easy or decorative depending on the artist’s preference. Different kinds of glass are used and colors are also played with to form the specified look. Before you begin to make your own beads and finish up with bowl fulls of different types of beads all mixed up, take some time to learn how to organize your beading stuffs. the first thing to study before using the torch and other hazardous tools for glass bead making is to follow safety tips in jewelry making. These tools can be very perilous not only to you, but to others around you. When creating glass beads, you have got to melt a narrow rod of glass using a torch. The molten glass is wound around a mandrel which is a thin length of chrome steel. The space where the mandrel is set becomes the hole of the bead. Holding and turning the mandrel in different positions allows gravity which helps forming the bead. There are tools required for pushing and pulling glass beads to form different sorts of shapes. Working with a lamp to make glass beads is not very easy, but patience and practice will help along the way. You have to remember that you are working with glass and torch. You have to learn different amounts and levels of heat that are mandatory for the glass to flow. Consider also the decorations you’ll add and the different glass colours you can work with and even combine. Glass shrinks when it cools. The beads are pulled out from the flame to cool down; they’re left out in open air that suggests that while the exterior of the bead is fast cooling, its within is still terribly hot. The uneven temperature coming from this technique will most likely force a bead to crack. Kiln toughening is a process by which both the outside and inside temperature can be closely controlled. The bead is placed in high temperature to make certain that all the glass is uniformly heated. After several hours, the bead can now be put out at a cosy temperature for cooling. But it’s's vital to make certain the glass beads you buy are all kiln hardened. For tiny glass beads, you may try cooling them from within layers of insulation. This technique is different from the toughening process but it has demonstrated to be effective for small amounts of glass. Most products and tools come with a set so always follow the beading instructions a crucial tool for beading if you need to learn and get it right.

About the Author

If you need help with your jewelry business then our jewelry software is guaranteed to get your business organized. We also have jewelry business tools and a free jewelry book all designed to help you get the most out of your jewelry business.

Related Glass Beads Articles

Filed Under: Glass Beads Tagged With: , ,

Get Familiar With Contemporary Glass Beads

April 15, 2011 By ksthebea Leave a Comment

Article by Umesh Yadav

IntroductionA glass bead by a very basic definition means a small piece of glass with a hole through it, that can be put on a string with other similar or dissimilar beads and worn as an adornment, etc. Since glass beads are the most ancient and universal art form, they are considered anthropologically very significant. According to some archaeological piece of evidence, the history of glass beads dates back to the Roman reign. At the same time, some other studies reveal the use of sophisticated methods of making these beads in the Mesopotamia and Caucasus region (Russia), as early as 2340-2180 B.C. Besides the Roman and Mesopotamian culture, the history of these beads is also associated with the Mediterranean, Egyptian, and Venice cultures.

The contemporary glass beads are much advanced and intricately designed than the ancient ones. They are available in a multitude of designs, shapes, sizes and colors. The small beads having elaborate designs are also sometimes called seed beads. Nowadays the beads made of glass are used in numerous jewelry items.

Elementary Uses of Glass BeadsGlass beads are used in primarily two kinds of applications. They are used for making curtains and are used in ornaments. But, their most prominent usage can be seen in the jewelry items. So let’s discuss both of their uses one by one:

1) Use for Curtains: Curtains made of glass beads are not mere curtains, but an interior decor item. The stones used for the fabrication of these curtains are multicolored, have intricate carvings, enticing finish, and bewitching coating. All these characteristics of these fabulous beads make the curtain a real decoration item. The common types of finishes that are found in these beads are Ceylon (pearl) finish, Greasy or Oily finish, Color Lined finish, Iridescent Finish, Metallic Finish, and many more finishes.

2) Use for Jewelry: The most ancient application area for glass beads was jewelry making only. These beads are made in both factories and cottage industries, for the purpose of jewelry making. They are more intricately and precisely designed than any other bead. These stones are also used for the “collage” technique of jewelry making. The grace of these stones increases many a time, when they are used in contrast with gemstones and metal beads. We can say that the glass beads used for making adornments are most appealing, gleaming and conspicuous in nature.

Common Types of Glass BeadsHowever, there are numerous varieties of glass beads available at present, but it is not feasible to describe each and every one of them here. So we are explaining here the most common types, they are as mentioned below:

1) Venetian: These beads have their origin in Venice, hence the name venetian. They are made by highly skilled Venetian artisans, who have acquired the expertise in this field through tradition. They are not mere beads, but the reflection of the rich Venetian culture.

2) Handmade: Handmade glass beads are the epitome of the artisans’ creativity and ingenuity. There are absolutely no constraints to the designs, shapes, colors, sizes, and varieties in which these fabulous adoration items are crafted. These stones are generally available in a vibrant kaleidoscope of colors & finishes.

3) Chevron: They are one of the oldest kinds of beads. They were manufactured in the 14th century for the very first time. Since then, their popularity have increased many a time. These beads are composed of convoluted layers of multiple colors of glasses in diverse patterns. However, this bead comes in six, four, and five layers, its most popular variety is comprised of seven layers.

4) Silver Foil: They possess a unique sheen, along with numerous brilliant colors. These beads are made by using a.925 sterling silver foil, which is submerged beneath the translucent colors of glass. They are made with great precision by skilled craftsmen. Their few common types include stamped silver foil, dotted silver foil, and two tone silver foil beads.

5) Alphabet: As the name suggests, these beads are engraved with various alphabets. They are endowed with a smooth finish and dyed in various vibrant colors like blue, red, yellow, silver, golden, cream, and pink. Their common shapes are that of heart, button, square, round, and triangle. The materials commonly used for making them include glass, sterling silver, wood, acrylic, plastic, etc.

ConclusionAbove, we have discussed the meaning, prominent uses, and common types of the glass beads. The significance of these stones is quite apparent from this discussion. We can say that the use of beads is almost indispensable for the fabrication of any dazzling jewelry item. We have already discussed various aspects related to the glass beads. But, as there is no end to knowledge, you might be seeking some detailed information on the above-mentioned and numerous other types of stones.

We can suggest you a site which will surely satiate this want of yours. It is none other than the Glass Beads Manufacturers

About the Author

Umesh is a person who love to writing. He has written many articles on various topics. Some of these articles are available on ezine.

Find More Glass Beads Articles

Filed Under: Glass Beads Tagged With: , , ,