How to Make Your Own Glass Beads from Scratch

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Last Updated: November 10, 2023

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This article explains how a beginner can make glass beads from scratch, using a method called "lampworking".

Steps

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1
Set up your area. Good work always starts with having a good workspace.
- Clean up an area to work on.
- Pick up any objects that you wouldn't like to be damaged.
- Clamp the torch head and gas canister to the table (follow instructions provided by the manufacturer).
Make sure you can get to everything without reaching across the torch (even when off it will retain heat).

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Take each one and rub firmly with wire wool. This cleans the metal and helps the bead release adhere to the surface.
Dip each mandrel in the bead release and leave to dry. Some bead releases can be dried in the flame; however, if yours does not say to do this, then leave to air dry, as it may crack otherwise.
Discard any mandrels with cracked bead release because if the glass comes in contact with the mandrel, it will stick and will likely be impossible to remove.
Turn on the gas to your torch head. Bring up a lit match from underneath to light it.
A bushy flame means you have too much gas.
Take it into your dominant hand and, holding it horizontally, slowly wave it in and out of the flame just above the tip of the blue cone. If you heat the glass too quickly then it may "shock" or shatter.
When the tip begins to glow, leave the glass in the flame a little longer, then start rotating the rod as a ball starts to form at the tip.^{[1]
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Try to keep the glass in the flame and keep rotating and so that it doesn't droop or cool, warm the mandrel in the flame just behind the glass. Hold the mandrel horizontally.^{[2]
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At the same time, start rolling the mandrel slowly away from yourself.^{[4]
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The rest of the glass rod will slowly soften as you roll more onto the mandrel.
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When you have added enough glass, pull away the glass rod (remember to keep the mandrel rotating in the flame). You will get a thin string of glass, just allow the flame to melt through it.^{[5]
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- Place your glass rod onto the rod rest, out of the way.
- You may want to switch your mandrel into your dominant hand at this point. To do this, carefully bring the mandrel in front of the torch. Never try reach over the flame.
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To round up your bead, keep the mandrel rotating in the flame until a smooth form is achieved.^{[6]
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- Add any decoration or other colours.
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When finished, slowly remove the bead from the flame (remember to keep rotating) when the glow fades. Put the bead and mandrel in between two sheets of fiber blanket, or into a pot of vermiculite to cool. Be careful not to disturb the bead – if it cools too fast it may crack.
- To check if your bead is cool enough to go into the fiber blanket or vermiculite without damaging it, hold the bead under your work area (don't forget to rotate) and see if it is still glowing – as soon as the glow fades, put it into the fiber blanket or vermiculite.
If you have trouble removing the bead, grip the mandrel with a pair of vise pliers and try to twist and pull the bead off.
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Leave the bead to soak in water. Then scrub the inside with a bead reamer or a pipe cleaner. Now your bead is ready to use.
- If wished, surface treatments such as etching can also be used at this point.

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Tips

Try to keep your bead under 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) unless you have a kiln to anneal the beads in. Annealing is the process of adding strength by heating and cooling in a kiln. Without this process, glass beads risk cracking and breaking easily.^{[7]
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If your match is blown out when trying to light your torch, then turn the gas lower. If the torch lights but then sputters out, then turn it up higher.

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If using propane gas keep your bead high in the flame to avoid murky dull colours. Brazing fuel burns cleaner than propane and avoids this problem.

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Warnings

Keep long hair tied back.

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Wear long sleeves and natural fibers, synthetics may stick to your skin if there is an accident.

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Always wear protective goggles with UV protection. Sunglasses work in a pinch.

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Dust from bead release can be hazardous – keep the bead release wet, or wear a dust mask.

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Remove dangling jewelry.

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Set up in a well ventilated area.

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Before attempting, do some research on ventilation, and annealing. Do not attempt to sell un-annealed beads, as they can spontaneously break, even years after they are made.^{[8]
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Things You'll Need

A workbench
1 lb canister of brazing fuel (MAPP gas) or propane
Matches
Single fuel torch head (hothead)
Mandrels (metal doweling)
Wire wool
Bead release or kiln wash
Fiber blanket or vermiculite
Glass rods
A rest for your rods to cool on after use
Metal container for water
Bead reamer or pipe cleaners
fire extinguisher
(optional) Bead kiln
(optional) Frit, millefiore, mica, stringers, etching solution etc for decoration
(optional) Heat-proof tools for shaping (anything metal or graphite can be experimented with)
(optional) Heat-proof board (if your workbench is not heat-proof)
(optional) Vise-grip pliers
(optional) Ointment for minor burns