Cleaning big holed beads

[AKDesigns]

Anyone have a tip on how to clean big holed beads and not scratch up the inside? My dremel is totally worn down but that still scratches up transparent glass. I used it to clean the inside of two made with light opaque glass and that was okay but now I have a big one in the kiln made out of a base of transparent glass and I don't want to ruin it.

Amy

[Kevan]

You can go through a whole diamond polishing routine, but that 's pretty time consuming. What about that Zapz stuff?

[Glassgoodies]

super fine wet/dry sandpaper.

[AKDesigns]

super fine wet/dry sandpaper.

Ohhh, we have that! I'll give it a try. Thanks Kevan but I need it NOW (of course!)

Amy

[Emily]

How superfine? Like 2000? Superer?

[suzanne]

try the sandpaper and some toothpollish. Toothpollish has a slight bit of abrassives in it, might do the trick. Also, clear nailpolish is your friend here:D

[Chuckie]

Frantz has some stuff he just started selling that you can soak your beads in and it will clean out the bead release...It's called Bucket O Clean. Maybe you could give it a try. I haven't used it, so I can't say how well it works. Someone else will have to chime in on that one.

[Tink]

Mike posted back in December that the Bucket O Clean stuff wasn't quite ready for the masses yet (paraphrased, of course). Here's a link to the post:
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=890281&postcount=18

There may have been a more recent update, but I'm not aware of one.

[Starrr]

What about wet jewelers emery paper?

[Bunyip]

Try a cut down mandrel in your dremel? Maybe with jewelers rouge or even toothpaste?

[jana]

I know you need it now, but for the future, you should order the Zipps/Zapps combo....I had beads made with BOM and diamond dremeled clean....John at Zingz took a mandrel and dipped it in the Zapps and hand polisehd those hole transparent!

[Marie C]

I bought some mascara brushes from a seller on ebay. They work great for cleaning t'parent beads without scratching. I got the idea from someone on another LE thread. I just did a search on ebay and had no problem finding some. They are made originally for 1-time use, for applying mascara at home makeup parties.

Hope this helps.

Warmly, Marie C

[Marie C]

Oops, the mascara brushes I bought were Mary Kay brand.

Warmly, Marie C

[vonna]

Well, looks like I need to post what works for me - (soak in hot water) - then- I have found that - TOOTHBRUSHES work the best as far as getting the bead release out - after that - I use the kitchen cleaning scourpads not the rough one's - the soft ones that are in the cleaning aisle at the grocery store - I have also used a baby bottle brush - I use elbow grease - takes a little longer - but it really cleans the bead.
I use a glaze on the inside of the bead to make it shinny. I really turns out nice.
The lighter the color the base the less scratches you get.

Less expense that way.

Vonna

PM me if you dont' understand.

[Marie C]

Vonna, what type of glaze do you use? The brand?

Thanks!

Warmly, Marie C

[Eplanet]

Soak your beads in a small dish of vinegar for about and hour - the bead release comes right off. If there are any small spots left, a kids size toothbrush will take it off. Better yet, go to the craft store and buy some pipe cleaners, they work well also.

[AKDesigns]

Thanks for all the tips. I tried a mandrel on the first big holed bead I made and it chipped the edges of the bead so I had to toss it. I tried a scourpad and it wasn't doing anything. I'll try the vinegar then if that doesn't work maybe the toothbrush then sand paper. I can tell that these big holed beads have become addicting for me so I'd like to come up with a set way to clean them.

[Hayley]

Have you tried the wire brush?

http://www.auralens.net/bs_wirebrush.cfm

I just ordered some - will let you know how it works on large-hole beads. I think the brass is softer than the stainless - there was a thread about that not long ago.

[Hayley]

BTW, your large-hold beads are gorgeous - I can see why you are addicted to them! ;-)

[beadman]

i use the mandrel that its on. just rub it back and forth occasionally dipping in steamy water

[Carmen Isaacs]

Anybody else found that the Zipps/Zapps combo works?? I don't want to waste my money.
I am also finding that the diamond bits scratch the glass. Has anybody come up with a solution yet? I don't think that nail polish is a good solution.
Carmen

[Phoenix]

Anybody else found that the Zipps/Zapps combo works?? I don't want to waste my money.
I am also finding that the diamond bits scratch the glass. Has anybody come up with a solution yet? I don't think that nail polish is a good solution.
Carmen

A number of us are using silcon carbide or cerium oxide now judging by the big hole bead exchange. It's a mess, but worth it for the finished result I think.

Make a slurry with your compound and water and apply with the mandrel, a toothbrush, a felt tip dremel...whatever works for you
scrub until polished

For difficult beads (example, I had one where the release cracked a bit- iwanted to even the bludge in the hole, then polish) start with a lower grade silicon carbide, then work up to the cerium oxide

You can buy any of those ingredients at a lapidary store. I also sell them in smaller increments (ounces instead of pounds)

[Hayley]

The BHB I made with the Kragg Mud bead release hardly needed any cleaning . . . just a small piece of extra fine sandpaper. Unfortunately all the other BHBs used another brand of bead release. Ugh.

Side note - even though Kragg Mud claims that it's flame dry or air dry . . . I found that air drying is crucial in its not cracking!

[Carmen Isaacs]

I find that I get bubbles when using Kragg Mud even though I have left them to air dry for days.
Carmen