Basic Bead Making Supplies

As a beginning bead maker, it can be confusing when you are trying to set up your own workspace. You know that you need equipment to make the glass beads, but what you

need and why you need them is not always clear. Fortunately, you can get started with just a few items and do not have to spend lots of money to get started.

Understand the basic bead making supplies needed to make your own glass art beads right away.

Torch Use a Hot Head Torch to make soft glass beads. This torch produces the right amount of heat for making small items and does not require oxygen like other

lampworking torches do.
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MAPP Gas MAPP (propylene) gas is sufficient for running your Hot Head Torch. The small MAPP container screws onto your torch and can be purchased from a welding shop

or a lampworking supplier.
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Glass Use sodium lime (soft) glass to work with your Hot Head torch. Although beadmakers typically use two types of glass for beads, which are sodium lime (soft) and

borosilicate (hard) glass, the Hot Head works only with soft glass.

Didymium Safety Glasses Acquire a pair of didymium safety glasses to protect your eyes from the sodium glare that the glass gives off when heated. Sometimes a pair of

sunglasses or other safety glasses will do, but it is not recommended for long term work.
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Mandrels with Bead Release A mandrel is a thin, steel pipe that you wind your glass on to make the bead and the bead release ensures that the bead comes off when you

are doing making it. Do not use a mandrel without the bead release.

Vermiculite or Kiln Vermiculite, found at garden centers, is a cost-effective way of bringing your heated bead down to room temperature safely (annealing). If you plan

to make just small beads, you can bury your work in this material and leave it there for eight hours. Otherwise, use a kiln, or annealer, to use a controlled method

for holding and lowering high temperatures. Use one or the other to ensure that your beads do not crack after you make them.

Ventilation System A ventilation system removes the harmful fumes given off when you create your beads. Depending on the type of area you are working in, this system

can be a box fan in a window or be a fume hood that covers your workspace. Because there are so many ways to do this, it is best to get advice from a bead making

class, join a bead forum and/or call a lampworking supplier.
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