"Holey" beads
 

I am a newbie in PC and this may seem like a silly question, but I am
trying my hand at making beads, BUT, I have trouble getting the holes
centered! Does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

Virginia

On , Virginia Jones wrote:


NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 18:49:05 MST
Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 20:49:05 -0500
Xref: bigfeed.bellsouth.net rec.crafts.polymer-clay:139501

I am a newbie in PC and this may seem like a silly question, but I am
trying my hand at making beads, BUT, I have trouble getting the holes
centered! Does anyone have any suggestions?

Don't try to go through all the way from one side. Start the hole, and
look at the bead from the side, then from the top, and angle the
needle so that it looks mostly centered. Go through a little more than
halfway. Then turn the bead around and look at the other side to try
to make it as centered as possible. Unless you have a bead roller with
a self-centering hole maker (which limits the sizes you can make, so
while useful, is not a full solution), it won't ever be 'perfect', but
it should be good enough. Do the same thing on the other side, and try
to angle it so it lines up with the other hole. Once you get near it,
unless you're way off, the needle will 'catch' it and go through the
first hole.

It helps to let the beads sit for awhile so they're not as soft.
Refrigerating them helps some people, but also makes it harder for the
needle to get through if they get too firm, and then you have to press
even harder on the bead. Don't worry if the areas around the holes get
a little 'flat', it makes them line up on a necklace better.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

Thank you!!!!

Virginia

Fenrir Enterprises wrote:
On , Virginia Jones wrote:


NNTP-Posting-Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 18:49:05 MST
Date: Sat, 21 May 2005 20:49:05 -0500
Xref: bigfeed.bellsouth.net rec.crafts.polymer-clay:139501

I am a newbie in PC and this may seem like a silly question, but I am
trying my hand at making beads, BUT, I have trouble getting the holes
centered! Does anyone have any suggestions?


Don't try to go through all the way from one side. Start the hole, and
look at the bead from the side, then from the top, and angle the
needle so that it looks mostly centered. Go through a little more than
halfway. Then turn the bead around and look at the other side to try
to make it as centered as possible. Unless you have a bead roller with
a self-centering hole maker (which limits the sizes you can make, so
while useful, is not a full solution), it won't ever be 'perfect', but
it should be good enough. Do the same thing on the other side, and try
to angle it so it lines up with the other hole. Once you get near it,
unless you're way off, the needle will 'catch' it and go through the
first hole.

It helps to let the beads sit for awhile so they're not as soft.
Refrigerating them helps some people, but also makes it harder for the
needle to get through if they get too firm, and then you have to press
even harder on the bead. Don't worry if the areas around the holes get
a little 'flat', it makes them line up on a necklace better.

---

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.

Fenrir Enterprises wrote:

Refrigerating them helps some people, but also makes it harder for the
needle to get through if they get too firm, and then you have to press
even harder on the bead.

well, it helps if you put clay in fridge, and your needle in something
hot:) it wont deform, but needle will pass easily:)


--
..~*I'm an angel, honest! These horns are just to keep my halo up.*~.