Wavey Bead Tutorial
 

I would like to add that I do not claim to have developed this technique. There are other ways to make a wavey bead. This is how I do it.

1. Start by making a disk about 1 inch in diameter. For this Tutorial I used SS5.

TIP: - Try to make your disk layers as skinny as possible. More layers will add to the depth of the bead and make your end result that much more interesting. I try to have atleast 5 layers or more in the disk.





2. Next, using a 6mm clear rod place a fairly large dot on the disk (does not matter which side you start on).

TIP: - Hold your mandrel perpendicular to the flame so that the disk is parrallel with the flame. Once you place your dot pull your rod toward the flame and flame cut just above the disk. (See Picture)



Place another dot the same size directly opposite of the first one.



Now place another dot inbetween the first two.

TIP: - DO NOT - touch the mandrel with the dots.
DO NOT - Let the dots touch each other.
Make your dots as large as possible without doing the above.



3. Perform the above procedure on the other side of the disk placing the dots inbetween the ones on the other side.

TIP: - These clear dots (When melted) will travel across the face of the bead creating the wave pattern. The larger the dot, the farther across the face it will travel.




TIP: - When placing dots on the face of the disk, wait for a second before pulling it towards the flame to flame cut. This will ultimatly leave more glass where you placed the dot.

4. Your next step is to melt everything down into a bead.




TIP: - When you first begin to melt down your wavey bead start by melting the tips of the dots where you flame cut them. After these are all melted down and even with the edge of the disk you can get more aggressive with the melt down.





Here is a pic before encasing it with clear



Here is a pic after encasing it with clear




Here is another example using a 3 color twistie.

1. Make your disk.





2. Apply your dots.




3. Melt it all down.



Before encasing.



After Encasing.



Final TIP: - Soft glass moves much different than Boro. Soft glass users will want to slow down the melt down. You may have to pull it out of the flame and let it cool for a few seconds, pull it out of the flame and let it cool for a few seconds, pull it out of the flame and let it cool for a few seconds, You get the idea. If you are using soft glass and you end up with a big blob and dont get that unmistakable wave pattern then your prorobably melting to fast!

I hope this helps some of the people out there that have struggled with this technique. Please post your questions and your pics.

Happy melting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay! Rob you're the bestest! I can't wait to get home tonight & try this! :grin:

Thank you so much Rob! I can't wait to try it.;)

Cool tutorial, thank you so much! I will try it soon. :love:

.

Even I might be able to do this....Thanks for nice clear tut.

A million Thanks! Super instructions and pics to boot.

Karen
Volkano Exotik

So that is how it's done! Thanks so much for sharing and making it easy to understand, Rob. :D

Thank you!
 

YEAH ROB!!! \\:D/ Thank you so much. Your pictures sure do help. You are the best. I can't wait to try again. (now i just need to get my oxygen refilled...)

That is a great tutorial - I can't wait to try this. I love the different striped effect - that is so, so, so neat!

My wavy boro beads never looked that great....I'm going to try your technique. Thanks so much for sharing it!

Leah

I've been making wavy beads - but I like your method better!
I'm going to try that as soon as I can steal some torch time!

Yer a Doll, Rob. :love:.

I found your method earlier this month in a thread and now I know what I was doing wrong - I was trying to melt it too fast!

Next time I will sloooooowwwwww down! :smile:

Thanks for the step by step photos too! They really help!

Just tried this tonight...don't know if I used big enough clear dots. I'll check the kiln first thing tomorrow!

Awesome...thanks, Rob. What a great tute! Samma

This is a great tut!!
Thanks so much!

Very cool. That's not at all how I thought those type of beads were made. Thanks for posting the tutorial. And nice pictures.

Fantastic!! It makes me want to get up off my butt and do some!!

that's an awesome tutorial, thanks for sharing!!!

Awesome! I will give a try :D

Thanks for the tut.

Totally awesome tut!! Thanks for that! Can't wait to try it!

Thank you , great tutorial,
Antonie=D>

Great pictures! Like the use of the twisty!

Perfect. It's so beautiful and the instructions are so simple.
It's do generous of you to share.
Thank you Rob.
Chau.

Oh my gosh, THANK YOU for posting this information! I love the look of those beads and didn't know how to make them . .. . I guess I also assumed you couldn't do that in soft glass. I will definitely try this :)

This is great, now I see how all y'all boro people do that.

That might be cool with the silver 104s.

Thanks for sharing! Great photos :)

Wow I love this tut!!!!! Now the problem is.....how do I get my disc bead to look that good from the beginning lol....Gonna go try this soon. I am too sleep deprived to try this now!

Hey Folks,
Just thought I would stop by and post some inspiration. \\:D/

I know someone else out there has to have pics by now!!!

Goodness those bead are gorgeous! Rob, thanks again!

I tried a couple..
One wanted to be round:
http://photos.imageevent.com/samands.../greenwave.jpg

the other a triangle?????
http://photos.imageevent.com/samands...riangleuse.jpg

That's what I was thinking . . . . with Terranova II! I bet that would be YUMMMY!!!