How to Make a Bead With Borosilicate
- 1). Gather your materials and put on your protective gear. It is much easier to work if everything is at hand, since you will be working with fire and melted glass, and distractions are dangerous. Eye protection is essential in case of any accidents with the hot glass. You will also need a covering for your work area that is heatproof. Your torch should have a secure stand, like a Bunsen burner, since you will be using both hands to work the glass. You will also need enough fuel for the torch, so make sure your propane or oxygen tank is full, especially if it is small. Have a fire extinguisher and cool water nearby.
- 2). Dip the mandrels in a bead release agent in order for the beads to come off. Mandrels are stainless steels rods that help to shape glass. Prepare several rods so you can make as many beads as you wish.
- 3). Start the torch and begin heating the glass that will form the base of the bead. Rotate the glass rod so it doesn't drip. Spin the mandrel in the flame to heat it. When the mandrel is heated and the glass rod has formed a blob at the heated end, touch the mandrel to the glass while spinning it to coat the glass around the mandrel. Remove the glass rod once you have the desired amount of glass on the mandrel. Spin the mandrel to shape the glass into a basic round bead.
- 4). Heat different colors of glass and apply them to the bead while spinning the mandrel to add stripes and spirals. Metal tools like picks allow you to scrape and pull the colors into designs. Touch the other colors to the base bead and remove it, instead of holding it against the bead as you turn it, to add dots, bumps and other shapes. Press the beads against a heat-resistant surface to make flattened areas.
- 5). Place the beads under a vermiculite or other fiber blanket meant to hold heat, and let them cool slowly, as beads will crack if cooled at room temperature. They may still crack under temperature changes later on, so cooling them in a heat-regulated kiln is preferable. This process is known as annealing, and makes the beads especially durable with reduced risk of cracking.