Sugar beads?

[playswithfire104]

I posted this in the tips and techniques room but didn't get much advice. I thought maybe someone here could shed some light on this.

You know those, usually, round beads that you roll in clear frit and they look like they are sugar coated? Well any pointers on making them? Or is it just PPP? I tried my hand at it last torching session and, well, they are just sad. I'm having trouble getting the frit on the beads near the mandrel. I'm also having problems keeping the frit from melting in too much. I think the fine line between melting the frit in enough but not too much is PPP.

Any suggestions that may help?

[lldesigns]

I use a small square bowl for holding the frit. To get the sugar coating close to the mandrels I heat the bead near the mandrel then push the bead into the pile of frit and pull it towards the side of the container.

As far as not melting the frit it....that comes with practice. I've been doing this for just over a year and it took a good 8 months before I was confident in my heat control. Let the bead cool after you roll it in the frit and then do a quick twirl in the flame to anchor the frit to the bead.

[Curly Irish Girl]

touching the frit to a heated spot on the bead will let you do LESS heating of the "sugar" after it's on....and keep that irregular surface you are looking for.....also keeps the "sugar" from popping off the base bead.....just my 2cents worth.....

[playswithfire104]

Thanks Lynn and Laurie!

[nivedita]

i have had good luck getting the frit to adhere close to the mandrel by stationing a large wide mouth metal funnel , above a pyrex bow{made a stand for the funnel to hold it upright..}make the bead, hold it over the funnel, then heat the area closest to the mandrel, and dribble a spoonful of frit carefully over the small heated area, as needed..the frit which does not cling will fall down the funnel, to be retrieved for the next project

[Smokeylady54]

I got some of this frit as a gift and they do not remember where they got it
Can any one help as to where to get this?????

thank you

[imagesinglass]

Hi there,

I've been working on sugar beads as well...it's just PPP - some of mine come out great, some not so much. I use a slim deep bowl and plunge the heated bead into it to coat the bead well with frit.

I purchased my frit from Glass Diversions at glassdiversions.com. Robin is awesome to deal with and her frit blends are wonderful!!!

Suzanne

[Bruna]

you can find it with Robin at glassdiversions.com

I use a steel ice cream scoop to hold my frit, that way the bead is burried under the frit when I twirl it. Then a quick flash of heat in the back of the flame

[playswithfire104]

I made my own frit. I took shorties of clear and put them in the kiln before I started working. Then after a while, when they were good and hot, using a pair of looped hemostates I took them out and dumped the little suckers is cold water. Instant frit. I had to wait till the next day for it to dry before I could use it.

[papimom]

Nancy,
I make my own too. I use a wide mouth tomato can for my water, with a cone shaped coffee filter down in it.
When I have enough frit, I remove the filter, tap the excess water out, and dump the frit onto a paper towel. After a quick roll around, I dump it into a shallow steel dish that I set on the top of my kiln while I am making beads. It just tkaes a few minutes to dry off any remaining water.
Joan

[playswithfire104]

Great tip Joan! Thanks.

[acmegirl]

Got mine from Val Cox..I think I have it in different levels of coarseness too. I love it.

[Cathie]

I have a bunch of this frit and I haven't had much luck with these beads either. Could I see some of the beads you guys have made with it ?

[Bruna]

here are some, square and gumdrop shape.

[theglasszone]

Ooooo!!! Didn't think of THOSE different shapes! Yummie!!!

Thanks for sharing,
DeAnne in CA

[Bruna]

glad you liked. I made a rosary with gumdrops, they look so cute! besides tempting.

[Cathie]

That is soooo cute !!!

[Dread]

I use bullseye frit size 1101-01 clear (fine)
I too also use a metal ice scream scoop or a metal gravy boat
I make my base bead (any color) I like clear
heat up and roll hit the heat if good on first pass put into the kiln or give another hit in the torch and roll again

[Smokeylady54]

Computer crashed so I was totally lost and confused and in a fog for a couple of days.

Thank you so much for the info. I just love sugared beads.

[mewsicmama]

Thrilled to find this already existed so I didn't have to ask. Thanks everyone who posted!

[volkanokaren]

Great thread ,thanks so much for the info.

Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth
Karen
Volkano Exotik

[simvet02]

Originally Posted by Dread

I use bullseye frit size 1101-01 clear (fine)
I too also use a metal ice scream scoop or a metal gravy boat
I make my base bead (any color) I like clear
heat up and roll hit the heat if good on first pass put into the kiln or give another hit in the torch and roll again

These are just lovely. I'll have to try it.

[Meow Meow Beads]

those are BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing

[Tesorobeads]

Originally Posted by Bruna

here are some, square and gumdrop shape.

Those are lovely.

Debbie

[Meow Meow Beads]

BRUNA KEWL BEANS!!!!!!!! I love the gum drops....they remind me from way back!!!!!

[Dread]

Here are some other colors
depending upon how much heat you hit it with the surface will look like sugar or ice
worst you can do is melt it all in a give it another try

I really like the melon scoop as it holds a lot is not too big and you and get the edges better
Just remember to ensure that the bead is realtively set otherwise it becomes off center as you roll