Technique demonstrated by and instructions provided courtesy of Pam East.
Materials:
propane torch (BernzOmatiC TS4000 recommended)
propane cylinder - 400 g (14 .1 oz)
tube cutter
torch holder from Pinz
pliers
flathead screwdriver
mandrel with tips from Pinz
index card
two or three small spoons
eight-inch ceramic tile
12-inch ceramic tile
Lazy Susan or banding wheel from Pinz
large slotted spoon or wire mesh
crock-pot or hot plate & coffee can
vermiculite (this is a soil lightener)
vitreous enamel from Pinz (80 mesh white, 6/20 mesh white, 6/20 mesh colors)
copper tubing (3/16-inch tubing and/or 1/8-inch tubing )
fire extinguisher
safety glasses
dust mask
Safety first:
- Always wear safety goggles when making glass beads.
- Keep a fire extinguisher on hand whenever working with an open flame.
- Keep the area in front of the torch clear of flammables, and work over a non-flammable surface. Ceramic tiles work best.
- Work in a well-ventilated area.
- Tie back long hair, and wear cotton clothing.
- Wear a dust mask whenever sifting or pouring vermiculite.
Steps:
Prep
1. Heat the vermiculite 30 minutes prior to bead making. You can use either a small crock pot or a coffee can and a hot plate. Don't forget to wear a dust mask when pouring the vermiculite.
2. Use the tube cutter to cut the copper tubing into short pieces. The length of the tubing determines the length of the finished bead. I recommend starting with lengths between 1/2 and 3/4 inches long (figure A).
3. Set up the torch. The torch head screws directly on to the top of the propane bottle. Use a torch holder to attach the torch and bottle tightly to the edge of the table. Place your 12-inch ceramic tile directly under the torch.
4. Lay out the enamel. Place the eight-inch tile on top of the lazy Susan. Use small spoons to put the enamel on the tile then use an index card or business card to shape it into lines around the edges of the tile. You should have a line of 80 -mesh white enamel, a line of 6/20 mesh white enamel, and a line of 6/20 mesh color enamel (figure B).
5. Lay out your tools. Place a tip in the mandrel and tighten down the thumbscrew . Place the mandrel and pliers directly on the 12-inch tile. They will be very hot once you start working so placing them on the tile will protect your work surface .
Beads
1. Use pliers to place a piece of copper tubing on the mandrel tip and tighten it down. Position the eight-inch tile on the lazy Susan so the line of 80-mesh enamel is facing you.
2. Light the torch and heat the tubing, rolling it continuously in the flame.
3. When the tubing begins to glow red, roll it in the 80-mesh enamel, taking care not to get any on the mandrel. Return the tubing to the flame and roll it so that it heats evenly. Continue until it's completely melted and glowing a bit. You may want to add an extra coat of the 80-mesh enamel to be sure the tubing is completely covered.
4. Turn the lazy Susan so the 6/20 mesh white enamel is facing you. Begin building the bead by rolling it in the 6/20 enamel (figure C). Again, take care not to get enamel on the mandrel as this can cause the bead to stick. Put the bead back in the flame. Be sure to keep rolling it and keep the mandrel level (figure D). Add the enamel a layer at a time, melting each layer completely in the flame , until the bead reaches the desired size.
5. Turn the lazy Susan again so the colored enamel is facing you. Add a single layer of color and melt it in the torch flame (figure E).
6. Optional - swirling the color. Once the colored enamel is melted, stop turning the mandrel and allow the enamel to sag a little (figure F). Give it a quarter -turn so the sagging portion is facing the flame and let it sag again. Continue turning and sagging the glass until the color has been swirled around the bead. Reshape the bead in the flame to round.
7. To remove the bead from the mandrel, turn off the torch but continue turning the bead until the red glow has faded. Hold the bead over the vermiculite with the mandrel tip pointed down into the crock-pot or coffee can. Place the pliers on the mandrel just behind the bead and push while turning the mandrel (figure G). Stir the bead down into the vermiculite with the mandrel. CAREFUL! Even after the red glow fades completely the bead will still be HOT HOT HOT! DO NOT touch the bead, or the end of your tools, with your fingers!
8. Finishing: Leave the crock pot or hotplate on while you make as many beads as you like. When you are done making beads, turn off the crock pot or hotplate and allow the vermiculite to cool completely. Give it at least two hours before removing the beads. Use a large slotted spoon or a wire mesh screen to sift out the beads , wearing a dust mask when digging or sifting through the vermiculite.
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