Bead cleaning

[sailingzees]

O.K. I have what seems like a simple question but I am almost willing to bet I will get all sorts of answers and some that are very different.

How do you clean your beads?

I know I clean my beads a bit different than a friend of mine cleans hers. So I started wondering how many methods people use and perhaps maybe I can learn something new. To me it is a time consuming chore that I do not care for. Maybe all this time I have been doing it wrong and there is an easier way.

[Kevan]

I use a diamond needle file and soapy water.

[greykat]

Warm water and a beam reamer or else the diamond file. It is a boring job but then somebody has to do it. (or is that what the husband is good for??)

Louise

[rverk47]

i use a dremel tool with a diamond bit..it works great, always knew my husband's tools would come in handy...

if you use a dremel, do you use it under water? If so, do you use a cordless dremel or corded one? I have one with a cord and don't want to go buy another one if I don't "have" to.
Sarah

[chrisdd]

I use an electric bead reamer with interchangeable tips.

[Jenn L'Rhe]

I use an electric dremel with a "flex-shaft" and a diamond bit in warm water. I hang the dremel from a hook. Less weight to hold and the bit is what comes in contact with the water...no water near the electric part of the tool.
Kay

[amberbryant1]

If you use a dremel, does it take away some of the glass? I am afraid that I would end up with a huge hole. Sometimes I just don't know when to stop!

[Kalera]

Originally Posted by Jenn L'Rhe

I use an electric dremel with a "flex-shaft" and a diamond bit in warm water. I hang the dremel from a hook. Less weight to hold and the bit is what comes in contact with the water...no water near the electric part of the tool.
Kay

That's exactly how I do it.

You can end up grinding the hole out unevenly until you get the hang of it, but once you do, it's the fastest, easiest and most thorough way I've found so far.

[lunamoonshadow]

adjustable speed dremel (electric), diamond bit, in a small dish of water....soak the beads overnight, dip the bit, pick up the bead, "drill" it out while it's "soggy"--dip it again (both bit & bead) when I flip it over & do the other side...fast & easy--not really "underwater"....I hold the dremel/bead inside the bowl so I'm not splattering muddy stuff everywhere, but I'm not actually using the electric tool "in water" either...just dipping the bit/bead to keep it "wet"...so far, so good....
(oh & I've been cleaning my beads BEFORE they go for batch annealing....so....maybe thats why they drill out fairly easily? I'm using fosterfire @ the moment....I figure if they stand up to the dremel, they'll stand up to the USPS on their way to my friend with the kiln )

[JanMD]

Wireless re-chargeable Dremel with looooong (3") pointy diamond bur, under gently running water in the sink, over a container to collect the sludge before it goes down the drain. All very carefully to avoid chipping the bead hole lip.

JanMD

[TTreasures]

I got a cordless dremel for Christmas from hubby but have been afraid to try it. Used it for the first time this week, and will never, never use anything else again! So easy and it cleaned out the hole in seconds. I always hated the cleaning job, but now it was a snap. Invest in a cordless dremel!
pat

[kbinkster]

I sit down with a tub of hot water, some paper towels, and a diamond file. I like to clean while watching movies.

[Renee]

I used to use a Dremel after soaking the beads in water. What I didn't like was the resulting frosted look of the hole that resulted from the Dremel's diamond bit. Then I switched to Bucket o Mud bead release and a threaded bead reamers (www.timberwolfstudios.net). After I remove the beads from their mandrels, I soak them in vinegar (Some use Coke, though I've found no real difference.) Using the threaded bead reamer will clean the hole better than any other method I've used. It's the combination of the bead release and the reamer that results in such a really clean hole without that frosted appearance.

[NLC Beads]

I use Fusion bead release, and it comes out clean by just rubbing the mandrel up and down inside it. I've rarely had to do anything else.

[sailingzees]

I expected I would get several different answers. The thing I didn't expect was to get so many that are pretty much the same. I use the dremel, flex shaft and diamond bead reamer method also. My friend uses a Warter Pic and she says it cleans her beads just fine and no "frosted" appearance. I am not yet ready to run out and get a water pic but she swears by it.

[kbinkster]

I also have one of those battery operated nail care kit thingies. I take my diamond file and stick it in there, sometimes, when I want to ream a little faster and I'm not watching a movie.

[Tink]

Your friend uses just a Water Pik? Cool... I'll have to try that and see what happens.

[sailingzees]

Yes Tink, she says she uses just a Water Pik. I believe she uses Foster Fire bead release. She says she soaks the beads in warm water for a bit then uses the stream of water to remove the release. She says it works like a charm. I do a lot of hollows and she says it is great for clearing out the bits that fall into the hollow bead. Being a bit of a cynic I am still not convinced or else it seems like a lot more people would be using this method. I have seen her beads and they are clean, I just wonder if a Water Pik can really be that effective.

[Tink]

I have a Water Pik that I bought just to clean out my hollow beads and blown vessels. I wish I wasn't on my way to the airport right now so I could try it for getting the release off it the bead itself! I'm cynical, too, but I've been surprised before

[Tink]

Ok. I just had to try it. It didn't work very well for me. I'm using Alice's bead release. Anyone else?

[Ro]

looking for new diamond tips for dremel, esp. NOT tapered. i seem to crack beads by pusing too far in the hole, if it wasnt tapered i wouldnt do that.
suggestions?
thanks
ro

[Lisi]

Inspiration Toolworks makes the best dremel diamond bits I have ever used. They are straight, not tapered. I've had mine about a year and it is still working great. Problem is, they are out of stock. I'm hoping they will get some back in soon, because I really don't want to use any other kind.

http://www.inspirationtoolworks.com/lampworking/0014/

I would like to try a hand file because sometimes I chip the holes on my beads that have more "flush" than "dimpled" holes.

[Ro]

thanks!!!!!!!!!!
ro