I just found your channel and I love hearing the sound of the tools instead of music in the background. The beads are lovely and you make it look easy even though it's quite time consuming. Well done! Thank you for sharing your talent! Now I must binge watch the rest! lol....subscribed
I use a cratex wheel for the initial sanding with the bead in a wire and allow the createx wheel to smooth the bead then use the polishing wheel, triopoly, to do the primary polishing. If I need I can return to the cratex wheel for any more correcting.
Great tutorial. I feel some opportunity to learn more was lost without you voicing what you are doing and using. I really enjoy your videos! Please consider a remake of this video or a new one to include stamping each bead. Thanks
This has been so helpful. I only have a question though, can you make the beads spherical with the dapping block? I bought one a few days ago and I can't seem to get a dome close to half a sphere without absolutely destroying the surfaces finish and making many slits into it.
Thank you for making this video! What is the tool you used to quickly punch out the round shapes from the silver sheeting? So much quicker and more precise than using a saw!
Your very welcome! It’s a disk cutter from Pepe tools but I’ve discovered that you can also buy disks in these smaller sizes from Santa Fe jewelers supply already punched. 😀
Hi, I have two questions: what did you spray on the beads before and while soldering? And exactly what torch is that (and which type of gas?) I use Sievert LPG torches and some older torches that need an air supply. Thanks, I enjoyed the video.
Little Cherry Hill they certainly do!! I used to have a strand for myself that I loved wearing. I need to have a bead making day again and do enough for a strand, was my fav piece of jewelry.
One thing about cleanliness, I always clean the material that I am soldering with isophril alcohol, not available in California so when I went to Arizona bought a gallon of it and it will last me until next century. When the items are sprayed with the alcohol add a light flame so that the material will dry.
Thanks! Would you share two things with us please-the thickness of the silver sheet and what did you use the stack the discs on while soldering? Thanks!
Sharon Quast hi Sharon, I like to use 22 gauge so that when I sand the domes I’m left with a pretty nice ledge, makes it easier for the parts to set on top of each other. I also really enjoy the weight of sterling beads with this gauge. I stacked them on a piece of steel wire that I bought at the hardware store. Thank you for the questions!!!
Thank you so much! That tool is called a spring loaded center punch. It leaves a nice divot so that the drill bit has a guide and won’t slide as you begin to drill. It also is fun for making a bumpy texture on metal. 😀
What did you put the beads in before putting them into the tumbler? It was a crock pot with a very dark liquid. I thought it was a patina type chemical, but then you sanded the beads and then tumbled them. I would think if it was a patina, the tumbler would have removed that.
Wish you would explain what you're doing! What is the spray that you are using? Why do you heat the halves before you ever put any solder on? I assume that those are solder chips that you're tinning to one half? What hardness of solder do you use? What gauge silver is best for making beads? What is the post that you stack your beads on made of? Trying to make beads for my first big squash blossom. Answers to these questions would really be appreciated!
Hi Laura, I’m warming up the halves and then spraying my flux on. Yes, those are solder chips that I’m melting to the half. I like using medium solder but some folks will use hard. The gauge of metal is totally up to you and how weighty you want your beads to be, I like using 22 gauge because I like a heavier bead. I stack the beads on a piece of stainless steel wire(buy in rolls at the hardware store) good luck with your bead making journey!!!!
Thank you! I've never had a spray flux, so didn't think of that. A friend suggested getting a bead mandrel to stack on. Researched those and found something that is used for making glass beads. Do you know anything about those? They're steel, so I would think that they would work with making silver beads as well as glass.... ? Steel wire that one buys in rolls sounds like an easy option, I'd just have to keep it STRAIGHT. :) I would have chosen 22 gauge, good to know that that works well for you.
@@lauraburnett6937 I would think those glass bead mandrels would work too. Yeah the spool from hardware store is inexpensive and you can just cut off short lengths that will hold a few beads. I would recommend the spray bottle for flux from Pepe tools although I did notice my hairdresser using the same type of bottle so possibly a beauty supply would also have it.
Hope you don't mind more questions. Really appreciate the help! #1. What is that little punch tool called that initially punches your center holes? #2. I've ordered a dura-BULL tumbler. How long do you tumble the beads? And, probably a really stupid question, but... If I stamp my beads, do they polish well in the tumbler? #3. What grit sanding sponges are you using, and, do you use them wet or dry? They're yet another new tool to me. Thank you again!
I don’t mind at all. That was a center punch( can pick up at hardware store). I usually just tumble for 30-60 minutes ( I’m impatient with that part and I really am not after a super high polish)😂. The tumbler won’t affect your stamping. I like to use a fine grit sanding sponge.
I’m confused, did just heating the metal make it fuse to itself? It seemed like you just shaped the beads, stacked them, and heated. What causes them to stick together? What are those tiny pieces of metal or something you put in to some of the bead halves?
Hi I was just wondering how much a 30 inch diver beaded necklace would cost . I think it’s not hollow because it’s heavy . 20 years ago 500 . 00 - coolants Indian necklace
I use paste solder, my hand shakes to much. I will heat the one half and lightly touch the edge with needle on the paste solder and the solder will sort of melt into the edge, it will not flow, just sort of melt into it, place the second half and then apply the heat.
