Using Lampwork Beads When the Hole is Too Large

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Using Lampwork Beads When the Hole is Too Large

by Sheila Davis
(Shelton, WA)

Peppermint candy lampwork beads by Sheila Davis

Pair of handmade lampwork bead cones by Sheila Davis

Handmade lampwork vessel with lid by Sheila Davis

Lampwork bead on rustic key by Sheila Davis

If the hole in your lampwork bead is too large, here's a way to "downsize" it.

Use hollow rubber cording, also called "jewelry tube" (available from Beadsmith), cut to fit the bead or even a tiny bit shorter, and string the rubber through the hole in the bead.

It comes in black and clear, and it also helps protect your stringing material from sharp edges.

Sheila Davis
Stone Designs by Sheila
Stone Designs by Sheila blog

Comments for
Using Lampwork Beads When the Hole is Too Large

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Downsizing lampwork bead holes
by: Rena

What a great idea, Sheila! Rubber tubing is kind of a nifty, multi-purpose jewelry making material - thanks so much for sharing this cool new use for it!

Also, I can't decide which of your four gorgeous creations (in the photos above) I love best - I keep thinking it's either the vessel or the key - but then I look at the peppermints and bead caps and I just can't choose! Your work is stunning.

Thanks!
by: Anonymous

Thank you so much for the nice compliments Rena!

This works!
by: Paula

Sheila told me this tip a while back and it works like a dream! I use a lot of lampwork in my designing and this solved a major problem for me. Thanks Sheila!

for lampwork creators
by: here today beadworks

As a non-lampwork creator, I sometimes buy lampwork beads to use in my pieces. I will try to remember this tip, and buy some tubing, but... wouldn't it be a great customer service to include a short piece of tubing and an explanation of what it is for with each bead you sell? Easy for you to do, and it would solve a problem your buyer might not even know they had until they had trouble using your bead.

Including tubing with the beads
by: Rena

Great idea, Here Today! Customers always appreciate extra touches like that.

Great Idea
by: Sheila

Thanks for the suggestion Here Today. I have done this in the past. Most of my beads now are made on smaller mandrels for easy stringing. I will include a piece in my focals though with a little note on how to use it!

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