There will undoubtedly be a few ways to explain the process of making a glass bead, but I hope my description is at least easy to follow. To make a glass bead, the following equipment is required:
- a torch (or 'lamp' as it is known in the US, hence the word 'lampwork'): the torch I use has a flame which is created from a mixture of propane gas and oxygen;
- a glass rod: taking the most basic type of rod, this is approximately 7mm in diameter, approximately 30cm in length and is available in virtually any colour under the sun. Glass rods come in both transparent or opaque colours;
- a mandrel (or steel rod in layman's terms) onto which the melted glass is wound.
To make a basic bead, the glass rod is melted in the flame until it softens. When it is soft (not too soft otherwise it just will drip onto the table!), it can be wound onto the mandrel, by rotating the mandrel in a single direction to build up a disc of glass. You continue to add glass until the bead is the size you need, then you use the flame to help shape the bead.
(photo courtesy of Andy Newbold Photography)
Mandrels have to be coated in a substance called 'bead release'. This substance helps the glass to stick to the mandrel when making a bead and, once the beads are cool, softens in water to easily release the bead from the mandrel. This substance must be cleaned from the bead, as it turns into a nasty, dusty powder once dry and can be a skin irritant, not to mention down right messy!!! The thickness of the mandrel determines the size of the hole of the bead: mandrels start at 1.6mm and go up to at least 2cm for making rings and donuts.
(bead bouquet)
The final piece of equipment which is vital to the bead-making process is a kiln. In order to ensure the longevity of a bead, it needs to be cooled slowly otherwise it will crack and break. This cooling process is called 'annealing' and most kilns nowadays can be easily programmed to handle this crucial step. Once the bead is finished in the flame, it must be placed immediately into a kiln, to hold its temperature. It can be held at a set temperature while you finish making other beads (this process is called 'soaking'); then, when you've finished making beads for the day, the annealing process can begin. The kiln will gradually cool the beads at a programmed rate and then switch off once that's completed. Once the beads are cool, that's when you finally get to see what you've created in the flame.
Last updated: Monday 19th May 2008