bead size

[honey*bee]

Does anyone have any tips on how to produce multiple beads of the same size without a mold? It is deffinatly harder than it looks.

[KristyN]

Honey Bee,
There are many methods used; some are just preferences. If I am making earrings, I will make them on the same mandrel and do the "keep-it-evenly-heated-so-it-doesn't-crack" dance.
- If I am making a necklace with graduated sizes, I may do the above (so two beads on opposite sides of necklace are same size), or I will cut the glass into increasing sizes and pick up with rod holders, and melt onto mandrel. I will allow a pull off of the end for transparents to get rid of the scum that may be there from the cut.
- Some use a sharpie to mark the glass in increments (I find this burns off too quickly as a mark, so it doesn't work for me).
- Also, after getting into a groove, I can just eyeball some sizes, or will make a bead in clay on a mandrel or just the shape, and put near my torch for a visual reference.
- Don't forget that if you are making two beads on one mandrel (or more), the glowing ones will look larger, so keep them heated with good insurance heat, but don't "eye measure" when glowing.
I'm sure there are more methods, but these are the ones I have used.
- Kristy

[honey*bee]

thanks that helps a lot. I was going to try 2 on one mandrel but I wasn't sure if it would work out. I will try that!

[ziggys]

Hi, Just wanted to chime in that the best way for me is also 2 on one mandrel. Still, it's not always easy. But the other ways, aside from cutting the rods to the same size which I have not tried yet, don't work for me.
The part about one bead looking bigger when glowing is a good tip. I swore they shrank after they cooled. :)

[deewiz38]

I always use a brass caliper that I bought at a craft store. Works well for me. You might have to make 1 or 2 extra to make the footprints match. :eek:

[Henrywashere]

If I want a bead with a precision size - like to fit on a bead pen or even if I need to make a missing 1 for a set, I make a little nic in the bead release just beside where the glass needs to go. So there will be a little nic on both sides of the bead, you just have to be aware to make the footprint inside the nics or it will end up not coming off the mandrel.

[honey*bee]

Thanks for all the great advise.

[Lisi]

My advice to you:

To get them all the same size - practice, practice, and more practice!

If I need a set all the same size I make extras. I make like beads in sets all the time anyway, always did. But I take my leftovers from these sets (if they are good beads, not wonkies) and sell them as "orphans".

When I started out I had to make 5-6 extra beads to make a matching set of say, like 7 beads. The more I practiced "the eye" for the right amount of glass for each of these beads, I made less extras. You have to pay very close attention and do the same exact thing for each bead.

If you are kind of new at this, there should be no interruptions while you make a set. If you can avoid it, don't get up and leave the torch to go do something else, because when you come back you may not do the same thing that you did before.

Sheesh....I really need to make a teaching video so I can show y'all how I do mine. Sigh...one of these days! :)

[Sue in Maine]

My advice to you:

To get them all the same size - practice, practice, and more practice!

If I need a set all the same size I make extras. I make like beads in sets all the time anyway, always did. But I take my leftovers from these sets (if they are good beads, not wonkies) and sell them as "orphans".

When I started out I had to make 5-6 extra beads to make a matching set of say, like 7 beads. The more I practiced "the eye" for the right amount of glass for each of these beads, I made less extras. You have to pay very close attention and do the same exact thing for each bead.

If you are kind of new at this, there should be no interruptions while you make a set. If you can avoid it, don't get up and leave the torch to go do something else, because when you come back you may not do the same thing that you did before.

Sheesh....I really need to make a teaching video so I can show y'all how I do mine. Sigh...one of these days! :)

HA!!! You would be doing me a big favor if you post a set, any set, that you have EVER made in your WHOLE entire life that has one bead that does NOT match!!!!!!! You make the most marvelously identical beads I have ever seen in my life..... and I am so ugly when I'm jealous.... green eyes, green teeth, just green all over with envy at your ability to match your bead sizes so well.

Come on, just one photo??? lol

Sue

[honey*bee]

That what orphan beads means!! LOL. I have seen that term used and didn't know what it meant. I like that idea, so far I have about 20 orphans!! I will deffinatly keep practicing, as I am a perfectionist and don't give up on something until I feel I have perfected it. Which right now looks like Im going to be working on it for a LONG time.

[Lisi]

I will deffinatly keep practicing, as I am a perfectionist and don't give up on something until I feel I have perfected it. Which right now looks like Im going to be working on it for a LONG time.

Ahhh...don't be so hard on yourself! :)

Because you are that way, as I always have been (it's an OCD thing), you may get it quicker than you think! ;) :D

[Lisi]

HA!!! You would be doing me a big favor if you post a set, any set, that you have EVER made in your WHOLE entire life that has one bead that does NOT match!!!!!!! You make the most marvelously identical beads I have ever seen in my life..... and I am so ugly when I'm jealous.... green eyes, green teeth, just green all over with envy at your ability to match your bead sizes so well.

Come on, just one photo??? lol

Sue

Sue, you really made me blush! (giggle!)

I don't have any pictures that I can come up with that quick, but i'm sure there are some..somewhere! LOL!!

But I had a ebay customer in the UK that was contantly sending beads back and wanting refunds. It was a real PITA, and after the 5th time (I know, I'm too nice) I blocked her. She never really said why she didn't want the first 3 of them, but sent back the last two sets because the extra beads that she requested later "did not match". BS! They did! I held back mailing the two sets so I could make more to match them, and they were fine. Noooo not good enough! LOL!

[rckeyes]

I`m with Lisi on this one. PPP and then PPP and then PPP some more!! LOL

[honey*bee]

Ahhh...don't be so hard on yourself! :)

Because you are that way, as I always have been (it's an OCD thing), you may get it quicker than you think! ;) :D

I hope your right! I must say that I feel that for only having been at it for about a month I am doing pretty well.

Thanks for the boost!

[cadia]

Yes ! Thanks for the glowing tip Kristy!
Maybe it also helps to make more than one pair of a style.
most of mine I make two to a mandrel, sometimes lose one
but it's still worth it~!

[Lisi]

Oh, gotta say: If it's any comfort for you all to know this - if making more than one on a mandrel is difficult and stressing you out even a little, don't do it. I tried that in my newbie days to match up beads and I kept losing them too. Crackety crack-crack!!! I had little halves of beadies all over my work area. Saved them for fusing some day.

I do one at a time, always. Even small spacers! I know a lot of people probably think I must make beads for my sets all in a row on the mandrel to get them matching, but I don't! So you can do it too, it's takes a little time and the three P's. :)

[Yellow Dog Girl]

Yes, I agree with Lisa - PRACTICE! What she doesn't say - but what I'm sure she does - is PAY ATTENTION as you are making your beads. LOOK at how much glass you're melting/winding off, then attempt to mimic that same amount for each bead. I know this sounds like a real "doh!," but for a lot of people this really clicks. Also, when I have to make quite a few of the same, I start with a whole (i.e., "new") rod of glass, or match several whole rods before I start. If you use 2 different rods, and they're different diameters...well, it's just a lot harder to get the same amount of glass.