Free Tutorial: Lesson Learned from an Antique Key
 

Here is a link to a free tutorial on how to create a lampwork bead on a key:

[IMG]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...orestsPath.jpg[/IMG]

http://dragonflylampworks.blogspot.c...key-class.html

Happy Beading!
Heather

Thank you Heather. I recently bought some keys, didn't even notice if they were hollow or not. I'm not sure how you avoid trapping air in there, but maybe when I have a key and a mandrel in my hand the lightbulb will come one.
I appreciate your sharing this information!

This is perfect! My daughter asked me to gather some old keys for a project of hers. Now I can personalize them before I give them to her...thanks!!

securing the key without trapping air
 

Locking Hemostats also work for grabbing the hollow key shank, instead of bead release. I don't have a good pair for keys, so I use the bead release. I also prefer the key to be on the same axis as the mandrel.

You can drip or carefully pour the release into the opening of the key's barrel , then insert a dipped mandrel. The excess release will drip out the end of the mandrel. Gently heat the key in a low flame while the bead release dries. The air will bubble out on it's own :)

The technique also works great on stainless steel thread bobbins. A student and I tried it last class session. Too fun!

Thank you!

Absolutely! Have fun with it!

Thank you .