Hollow Bead Question

[Elizabeth Beads]

I was so pumped last night when I made my first hollow bead. It's just plain transparent cranberry glass but it is big and nicely round.

So here is my questions - how do you clean the bead release out of hollows?

I soaked it in water all day, chased the pieces with a pipe cleaner and I still have bead release debris inside the bead. Help?

Liz

[khammil]

Try plugging one end with your finger, filling it with water and then blowing the water out like you'd blow an egg.

[MardiGrasGlass]

Can you use a syringe to suck it out?

[barbaracollins]

A Water Pik type of thing!!

[Carmen Isaacs]

I sometimes use the little rubber suction thing you use to clean babies noses. Not sure what it is called but it is very effective. You can buy them at CVS. It allows you to push water into your bead and get the bead release to move out the other side. Clear as mud??

[Elizabeth Beads]

Thanks everyone.. Great ideas and I will definitely try them all. I love hollows - I made another one yesterday. :)

[Lea Zinke]

I hold my forefinger slightly behind the hole and let the water run through the bead, it shoots right out the other end! Works like a charm! Then I blow out the water as much as possible and leave to dry.

Hollows are fun, aren't they???!!!

Happy holidays,
Lea

[lldesigns]

I wait a day or two until they're completely dry and then shake it out. If there's a big stubborn piece, I break it up with a wire.

[Carolyn M]

Waterpik works like a charm

[tammydownunder]

1. fill my mouth with water.
2. place hole of bead in mouth.
3. lean over sink and blow water through hole like blowing an egg.
4. repeat until clean.

also, use bigger mandrels.

[Elizabeth Beads]

Bigger mandrels, that is a great idea. How big? 1/8? Or bigger?

[LAJ]

I use canned compressed air. Just need a quick blast of it to send the offending bead release flying out of there. Easy peasy. :grin:

[tammydownunder]

Bigger mandrels, that is a great idea. How big? 1/8? Or bigger?

2.4 mm -not sure what that converts out to in inches.