Tiny squiggle bead question
 

Hi all

Please excuse the awful pic!

I work with soft glass only and a client wants me to make very thin squiggle beads and they are just going to break I know with any amount of pressure on them. She wants them to be about 1/8 to 3/16 at the thinnest area and not too much bigger elsewhere. Don't think they will hold up to any wear but I want to try.

So my question is is will boro be any better as far as wear on a necklace? I have a pretty good torch, although I know it will take a lot longer to melt boro. Also, if you think boro is a good choice for this kind of delicate bead, where would you suggest I buy it from? I need it quickly.

Thanks so much!

Kitty

Kitty, I don't work boro, but I would think it would be less likely to break. I don't nkow for sure, but that is where the gut goes.

They would be stronger in boro Just a note though if you are making the bead then adding the squiggle make sure you have a good weld. I can't give any suggestions on where to buy as I am from Canada.

If you need it quickly, order from Mountain Glass Arts in Asheville. If you order in the morning, you'll probably have it the next day or the day after.

I think it would work but they'll still be delicate.

Kitty,

Do you just need clear boro? If so, I can send you some on Monday. I have LOTS!!!

Angie

You guys are just awesome. Thanks so much. Angie I may take you up on that! As soon as I hear from her I will contact you. I really appreciate your kind gesture. I will definitely paypal you shipping moola. :)

If you need a color, I have just about every color made. Thought I would be the "boro queen" but I'm just not as in to it as I used to be. Just let me know what color(s) and I'll include those as well. I'll cut the rods so shipping will be less. Don't ya just love custom orders??? :rolleyes:

The squiggle bead in boro is very strong. I've made several, all by accident. Start making a bead on a mandrel. After a few wraps get the bead release to release, pull out a tail as long as you like, burn the tail off and stick the bead in the kiln. Sometimes if I wrap too fast, using a 7mm or so rod, I put too much strain on the bead release, it breaks free of the mandrel and I can't finish the bead, so burn off that 7mm rod in a squiggly way. They make cool necklaces.

Hi Gerald,

Thanks so much. That is pretty much what I did for these. But she wants them to be 1/8 to 3/16 wide. Do you still think they will be strong that small?

I learned in soft, all off mandrel. I also had several things turn squiggly. Manyof them are still alive three years later. Make them in soft, then anneal.

Glass is a very strong substance. And a jerk acting like Superman can
Break anything, but assuming no jerks around, 1/8 to 3/16" should be
Plenty strong enough.