Why make opaque hollows?

[truegem]

I thought the whole idea of doing hollows is the way they look. But with opaque glass, you can't see this. So what is the purposed of making hollow beads with opaque glass? Because they are lighter in weight?
Thanks, Patti

[Hayley]

The weigh is part of it - it's also a faster way to make a LARGE bead! Here is Aja's gorgeous hollows:

http://wanderingspiritdesigns.blogspot.com/

[flaming_fools]

Yep - that would be it, the weight! I supposed you could say that they use less glass, so might be cheaper to make?

I am not sure, but for me, making good hollows takes a lot longer than making a solid bead of the same size. Now if I knew nothing about the making process, as a consumer, would it make sense that hollow beads cost more?

I sometimes wonder about just opaque beads in general. Used to do porcelain work, and I see many glass beads that could be done using clay and glazes- weight would be about the same, so that is not an issue there.

[Lisi]

When I was on the HH I used to make big honkin' opaque hollows! Well, to me big was 25-30mm.

Lighter in weight, they have a lot of appeal to designers, esp. for chunky bracelets.

[Laura B]

Originally Posted by Hayley

The weigh is part of it - it's also a faster way to make a LARGE bead! Here is Aja's gorgeous hollows:

http://wanderingspiritdesigns.blogspot.com/

Those are gorgeous... and would be pretty impractical if solid.

[truegem]

Got it...thanks! And I love Aja's beads, they are so cool and chunky!

[wendbill]

Hollow beads are surprisingly strong as well.

[Kevan]

Why make opaque hollows? Because they are cool looking.

[truegem]

Originally Posted by Kevan

Why make opaque hollows? Because they are cool looking.

But Kevan, my point was that you can't see that they are hollow if you are using opaque glass. =/ So that was why I was asking. I would have never known that Aja's beads are hollow if someone hadn't told me.

[Lisi]

A member on here - HWCGlass makes hollow beads that are amazing!! (did I get the name right??)

[Kevan]

Originally Posted by truegem

But Kevan, my point was that you can't see that they are hollow if you are using opaque glass. =/ So that was why I was asking. I would have never known that Aja's beads are hollow if someone hadn't told me.

You would know it if you felt them. My DH only makes hollow beads. He doesn't make beads much at all anymore, but he can make big mandrel wound hollows 3 inches across. Though he always uses some clear glass, not always.

Laurie, the snake lady, makes some beautiful DSP hollows wrapped in DSP shards. They are so light weight.

[rosebud101]

I like making opaque hollow beads. They are usually bigger than most beads, and they are so much lighter! I love them. Even if you can't see that they are hollow, you can pick them up and feel the difference in weight. A side effect of making opaque hollows is that when you clean them, you don't have to worry so much about getting all the bead release out of them since it won't be visible.

[LyndaJ]

because you can

And if you're using an expensive color, you would be using less glass.

[Firebrand Beads]

If you have ever seen Ronit Dagan from Israel at a Gathering, wearing these MASSIVE hollow beads, you would know... I would need a chiropractor to wear this necklace if they were solid.
http://www.yanivgallery.com/English/Artist.asp?ID=15
(click on the third image, I have seen Ronit wearing these or similar many times. The largest ones must be 3 inches across, easily.)

[Aja]

Thanks, Hayley
Patti, it's slightly addicting and opaques are usually more reactive than transparents, in my opinion (unless you're talking silver glass). I also like being able to mimic the look of something other than glass- so when people pick them up, the beads are lighter than expected and they sometimes say, "These are glass?!"

[truegem]

OMG did you guys see the pair of lips and tongue ring on the link Jenny posted? Wow!
Anyway, Aja, thanks! So it's pretty much a weight issue. Cool! Now I want to hold one, lol!

[truegem]

Mallory what is that animal in your avatar? lol

[Fine Folly Glassworks]

I make hollows because I am on a Hothead without a bead kiln, so large hollows will cool without cracking for me. I can decorate to my heart's content on a large bead this way...