How Are Glass Beads Made?

Lampwork

• Lampwork beads are made using the ancient technique of melting glass onto a rod to form a bead. Traditionally a candle or lamp was used to melt the glass. Today most lampworkers use a torch to melt glass. The glass is melted onto a rod covered with bead release to prevent the glass from sticking to the rod while the bead is formed. The lampworker turns the rod while melting the glass until a round bead is formed. The lampworker adds additional glass to change the color and shape of the bead. Some lampworkers use molds to further shape the hot glass.

Fused Glass

• Fused glass is another ancient technique for making glass beads. Layers of glass are stacked and a rod or string coated with bead release is placed between the stacks of glass to form the channel of the bead. The stacked glass is fused in a kiln under high temperatures. Many fused glass artists use tools after firing the fused glass bead to further shape the fused glass bead in techniques called "cold working." These cold working techniques include cutting, shaping, grinding and polishing the glass.

Pate de Verre

• Pate de verre means "paste of glass." This old technique was made famous by Rene Lalique during the art nouveau period. Glass powder is mixed with water and glue to form a paste that is put into a mold and fired in a kiln. Holes are later drilled in the fired glass using diamond coated drill bits to make a bead.

Cast

• Cast glass is a technique similar to pate de verre. Pieces of glass are put into a mold coated with kiln shelf primer to prevent the glass from sticking to the mold. The glass is fired in a kiln until the glass melts and takes the form of the mold. Holes are drilled using diamond coated drill bits after the glass is fired.

Blown

• Blown glass is formed by taking molten glass at the end of a pipe and then blowing air through the pipe to form glass orbs. Blown glass beads are drilled with diamond coated drill bits to create bead holes after the glass is blown.