How to Create Lampwork Beads

 

 

Creating lampwork beads is similar to “glassblowing”; however it doesn’t require processing the glass by “blowing”. Since you probably don’t have all the necessary instruments in your basement or workshop here’s an inventory of everything you need to get it going:

1. Mandrels
2. Fuel tank (MAPP gas or propane depending on what kind of torch you use)
3. Annealing oven
4. Bead release
5. Torch and gas tube
6. Long nose pliers
7. Shaping tools (graphite is recommended because it won’t melt)
8. Glass bar

 

These procedures are mostly used to creat fused glass jewelry.

 

The procedure is not difficult. Just heat the glass bar using the torch flame until it is almost molten. Than apply it to a mandrel previously treated with bead release so that the bead won’t melt for good to the mandrel after cooling. Afterwards simply spin the mandrel collecting the evenly distributed glass over the rod.

 

After you attained the intended size and colors you can start decorating the bead using the ground up glass. If the bead is complete you can start to cool it until it stops glowing and than put it into the kiln for slow-cooling. This consolidation procedure plays a very important part in removing bead stresses caused by the molten glass. Skipping this stage of the process will lead to obtaining very fragile beads that will crack under the smallest amount of pressure.

Since you’ve completed the annealing procedure the beads only need cleaning before being prepared for use.

 

Stringing is the process of making glass strings by using a pair of pliers to pull molten glass in order to create a thin glass fiber.

 

Since you’ll be working glass at very high temperature, be careful to use glass roads that are long enough to keep you out of troubles. To be safe is recommended to have at least 4 inches between your hand and the edge of the glass bar but if you have more that is even better. A very important thing that you should be aware of is that hot glass looks exactly like the cold one so you won’t be able to differentiate it if you’re not careful were you put the processed bars.