How do you get your beads the same size

[bead crazy]

I am fairly new to bead making and have a really hard time getting my beads the same size. Can someone give me some tips? This is very frustrating to me.](*,)

Thanks
Lori

[Karen Hardy]

Sucks to hear it, but practice, practice, practice.

Other methods that work great are

1) COUNT the wraps of glass on the mandrel as it goes around, and try and make all the beads the same amount of wraps.

2) Have some "model" beads in front of you and use those for reference as you're making your beads.

3) Make 10x the amount of beads you need and pick out all the ones that are the same size (hey - how do you think "orphan" beads are born?)

4) Use a press

5) Have a caliper sitting on your desktop nearby (I use this when I need to make a bead of a specific size - but you could use it to measure beads as you go).

6) make pencil marks on your mandrel (this would take care of the length problem, but you'd still have to worry about the fatness of the bead).

Hope this gives you some food for thought.
I could be more specific if there was a picture of the bead you are trying to duplicate.

[divak17]

I'm a newbie too - one thing I try to do is determine what size the bead is in comparison to other stuff: blueberry? cherry? and then re-envision that.

I also heard one lampworker say that she'll mark the size of the first bead on a mandrel with sharpie... that would help with the width.

Good luck - I still battle this daily.

[shawnette]

I make them on the same mandrel so that it's easy to see.

[barbarajoy]

Yes, same as Shawnette (on same mandrel). But that's only for earring beads. For spacers try using the 2-3mm stringers cut to the same lengths, say 5 inches. No fuss, no muss. :lol: I'm a cheat!

~Barb

[bead crazy]

WOW thanks to all of you for your tips I can't wait to try them. But Shawnette if you do several on the same mandrel don't they shock if they are out of the heat without getting them in the kiln or other cooling method?
I tryed the sharpe mark and I just burned it off so that did not work will. I guess I will end up with lots of orphans.
Thanks Lori

[LavenderCreek]

I do mine on the same mandrel too. For decorated beads I do anywhere from 2-4 beads depending on how complex the decoration is. For spacers I usually do 6 or however many will fit on the mandrel. Start out with 2 plain beads. Make the first one the size you want it, get it round then start making the second one. When your first bead begins to cool, move back and flash it in the flame to warm it up again(not enough to make it loose it's shape but just get it warm), then keep working on your other one. Once you are comfortable making 2 beads the same size and can keep them both warm, begin adding simple decoration and work up from there. It takes practice just like everything.

[lbjvg]

I use a small digital scale (http://www.americanweigh.com/index.php) and cut segments of rod of the same weight. I use a Uncle Al Rod Grabber http://arrowsprings.com/html/holding_tools.html or tweezers to hold the short segments in the flame.

[Darelyn]

I do mine on the same mandrel too. For decorated beads I do anywhere from 2-4 beads depending on how complex the decoration is. For spacers I usually do 6 or however many will fit on the mandrel. Start out with 2 plain beads. Make the first one the size you want it, get it round then start making the second one. When your first bead begins to cool, move back and flash it in the flame to warm it up again(not enough to make it loose it's shape but just get it warm), then keep working on your other one. Once you are comfortable making 2 beads the same size and can keep them both warm, begin adding simple decoration and work up from there. It takes practice just like everything.

Thanks for explaining how you do more than one on a mandrel. I kept having problems with the two beads being lopsided. Now I realize I didn't complete the first one totally, THEN move on to the second one. I was trying to do both at the same time. It's the easy things that seem to be hidden, sometimes! #-o

Do you do that if you're doing two right next to each other, like a snowmen?

[Karen Hardy]

The VERY first time I sat down to my minor torch in my new studio (first time on anything other than a HH)
I made 6 beads on a mandrel. They were absolutely perfect. Matched down to the last mm.

I have never been able to do it like that again.
I can do maybe 3 or 4, but then they start to get wonky.

I guess the bead gods were smiling on me that day and wanted to bless my
new studio :roll: .

Thanks for explaining how you do more than one on a mandrel. I kept having problems with the two beads being lopsided. Now I realize I didn't complete the first one totally, THEN move on to the second one. I was trying to do both at the same time. It's the easy things that seem to be hidden, sometimes! #-o

Do you do that if you're doing two right next to each other, like a snowmen?

[J. Savina]

I mark the rod in increments. Works for me. The marker burns off in the flame.

[Laurie L]

I do two beads on a mandrel. Then hope and pray the next two are the same size. I count my wraps also.

[Lisi]

I get asked this question all the time, so I got smart and wrote up my advice and kept in a file on my computer! Here it is:



Glad to help! I could tell you like a lot of others would - practice practice practice, but..... there is something that I do that eventually (with PPP!) you would develop an "eye for it" just like I did.

I start with a little footprint bead and make sure that is evenly rounded up in the flame. It's important to make sure that you have a well shaped little base bead to start out with, because then you can wind more glass around the equator of this bead. The footprint is already down, so the next wraps of glass will melt in nicely and you will be able to get it evenly rounded without some of the problems that come from an uneven footprint.

I make my beads in 2, 3, 4, and 5 "wraps". Meaning that including the base footprint, the number of times around with another "drip" of glass. I apply each drip separately, I don't keep winding around and around the equator until I think I have enough. The only time I might do that is if I'm making a single focal bead.

The "drips" are the molten tip of the rod, and when it's ready to droop downwards I apply that around the bead and melt in, and just repeat if I want bigger. I have to be careful, sometimes it droops too much and winds up on the work table! My torch is pretty hot too - Bobcat and high pressure generator.

I tried to do the same thing each time, and after a while my eyes (and brain!) could size up each drip, and once you can do that, the beads are very close in size. With different size rods and even different glass rods, the drip sizes will be different. I check the diameters of the rods I'm using, and if I think I'm going to use more than one rod to make a big set of beads, I'll have another of the same diameter set aside.

I usually make a few extra with each set, and chuck aside any that are too big, too small, or not shaped like the others. Sometimes I use too much heat and a bead will become rounder than the others in the set that may be more "donut" shaped. That takes PPP too, but eventually you won't have to chuck aside that many "extras". (BTW - I sell the leftovers from sets on ebay, lol)

Sounds very OCD doesn't it?? LOL!! That's me! ;) :D

I hope this helps you! In time you will develop an eye for the glass amount on the mandrel. :)

[Lisi]

Oh, I forgot to add:

I really admire those who can make more than one bead on a mandrel! I rarely ever do that anymore, not even with just plain ol' spacers! It drives me crazy and I can get them done a lot fast one at a time anyway! I just don't have the patience and I worry about one cracking while I work on the other.

[bead crazy]

Lisa, Thanks so much I can't wait to try this I printed out these replies and when I go to the studio to torch next time I am going to try them all out.
Thanks also to all of the others that took the time to give me tips I just love this site!!!!!
Lori