How long should a beadreamer last

[Elizabeth Beads]

I seem to go through them quickly. I clean my beads under water but pretty soon my reamer is smooth as a nail. Any alternatives to the $30 bits?

[2kids&atorch]

What kind of bead release are you using? That happened to me and I called Dave at Art in the Round, who suggested I go back to the user guide and really read ALL of the suggested directions for use. I realized the whole time I was using a bead release that contains silica, an ingredient that wears down the diamond coating. Since then I got the Sludge Plus he recommends, and watered it down as he instructed (which is actually great cause it lasts longer). I bought a new BeaDreamer and it still works like a charm after a year. Not any wear, whatsoever. He also recommends not using anything with aluminum either.

[Elizabeth Beads]

Interesting. I use Arrowsprings Blue Sludge mixed with Krag Mudd and usually watered down. Wonder what the Krag has in it. It's not a gritty release, quite the opposite. Thanks Alison!

[J&M]

What kind of bead release are you using? That happened to me and I called Dave at Art in the Round, who suggested I go back to the user guide and really read ALL of the suggested directions for use. I realized the whole time I was using a bead release that contains silica, an ingredient that wears down the diamond coating. Since then I got the Sludge Plus he recommends, and watered it down as he instructed (which is actually great cause it lasts longer). I bought a new BeaDreamer and it still works like a charm after a year. Not any wear, whatsoever. He also recommends not using anything with aluminum either.

What Alison said!!

Jack

[mtarara]

Also, just because they feel smooth doesn't mean they still don't work. I thought mine were worn out because they felt smooth and 2 yrs. later I'm still cleaning my long beads with them. The diamond coating is very fine but cleans out the bead release great, even on my transparents.
Mary T.

[tracidawn78]

I bought these from Roma back in May http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_2&listing_id=32730094&ga_search_query=reamer&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5674920 I've thrown the first one away, and I'm now on #2. The 3rd one is still in the packaging, so yeah, these are lasting a REALLY long time for me. She has all kinds of cool stuff for lampworking in her store, and she's a really sweet lady!

[woodywood143]

I go thru them so quik too. I buy the cheap ones from harbor frieght 2.99 for 3 different style reamers plus a pin vise

[Art of Hand]

I buy a diamond 'reamer' from jewellry supply shops locally, and pay about $5 each. these last for months, even close to a year. I have a couple of them, all diffent thicknesses and lengths of coating. There is no way that I will ever consider paying $30 for a reamer. I know that the tip is smooth of the expensive one, but that is easy to achieve with a grinder too ... and still only cost me $5.

I alos use my diamond reamer for other stuff, and really give it a beating. It is silversmithing grade stuff. Which as it is, is already expensive.

I have a pet peeve with prices for speciality tools that is very high. I believe in profit, but not to the detriment of my customer ...

[Sue in Maine]

Quicker, simpler and cheaper. There is a round hacksaw-type blade at your local hardware store. It has round holes on each side... buy one and cut it in half. (I will go take a picture of mine and will try to run down to the hardware and buy another one today and post a picture.)

Sue

[Trey Cornette]

You can get cheaper ones from Ross at ABR. That's what I use. They come in different mandrel sizes and work great.

[Sue in Maine]

Here is what I am talking about. They were out of them at the hardware store but said they are "round hack saw blades." They are one long piece and I just cut it in half. I t*h*i*n*k the sign by the empty spot they would have been in said .99.

189739

189740

The won't work on the smallest (thinnest) mandrels but all others, you're good to go. They last a long time too.

Sue

[Pat]

The expensive ones did not last for me. I get cheapies at Wiget.

[Lisi]

I've had my beadreamer 1/16" bit for 3 1/2 years now, and I use KRAG Mudd. I clean hundreds of beads a week most of the time, so that's a pretty good bit if you use the right bead release. :)

[FourTailsLampwork]

What Sue said for 3/32 and up. These are hole saw blades, and they work beautifully, on all releases, for years.

One of the reasons I don't use a BeadReamer is that the recommended release really doesn't work well for me. For smaller beads I get reamers from Harbour Freight, and they work fine.

[killerbeedz1]

I will never purchase a $30 reamer again. Mine did not even last a month. I am not willing to change my bead release (blue sludge plus) to suit a bead reamer. I get the cheap one from a jewelry supplier around my house for $5 and there are 3 in the package and are tapered (a big plus). Last for a couple of years and works great. They look just like Tracy's.

Patsy

[Elizabeth Beads]

Thank you everyone. I am so thrilled to have all these alternatives, since I would go through a beadreamer per month and none are even up for sale at the moment!

[FourTailsLampwork]

There's another alternative for 1/16" and smaller mandrels. Paula over at The Venerable Bead used to sell a wonderful fine grit. (I don't remember the name, because the label is now long defunct--this stuff lasts forever.) You dip your mandrel or your now-useless BeadReamer into it, and use it to clean out the bead poop. It works beautifully, and means that you don't have to buy a special reamer.

When I use it I either put it on my Dremel reamer or I put it on a mandrel stuck into a champagne bottle cork (I have friends who go through mountains of bottles so corks are never a problem!). Makes a dandy handle!