Hi, I haven't read all the posts here, I supposed to be cooking (!) but for a great tutorial on how to make a base bead I love this one:
http://bearfootart.com/pages/VideoClips.php
If that link doesn't work just go to barefoot bob. There is a bunch of videos, quick and dirty and gave me lots of Ah-Ha moments that I could take back to the torch and use!
I don't mean to high-jack the tie-dye bead tut., but someone mentioned that this video was sloppy on making the base bead.
FWIW,
Angela