Home Forums Explore Media Glass Art Let’s Talk Glass Technical Forum How do I split cracked beads??

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  • #984240
    Isrin
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        I tried searching the forum, but I can not figure out how to word it to find what I want.

        I have some great beads that have cracks at the midpoint. I would like to split them apart to use them as cab’s.

        Anybody out there know how to do this?

        Thanks in advance.

        Erin

        #1032024
        blazinghussy
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            Hmmm, I have a whole slew of beads like this that I’m saving for cabs. But I haven’t split them yet.

            I was thinking that sticking them back on a mandrel and sticking them in the flame would split them down the fracture point, but like I said, I haven’t tried it yet so proceed at your own risk :D

            Kel

            #1032020
            !Karen
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                I would think if you have some sort of metal thingie, that would fit in the hole, but not all the way through, and then tap it with a hammer it would split the bead.

                What to use for a thingie, center punch, slim screw driver, ???

                :)Karen

                #1032023
                Elena
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                    A bead reamer works.Sometimes i carefully use plyers. I get a few “crackers”. I use close pins around my house for silly things. I glued my new Bead halves onto them to adorn them! Kinda fun!

                    Boos Baubles Website[/URL] Boos Baubles on E-Bay

                    #1032019
                    Orca
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                        First, buy a chainsaw….

                        But seriously,

                        I’ve had success by putting the beads in the freezer overnight, and then dropping them into hot water, fresh out of the kettle.

                        Use a melmac, or metal vessel for the water. Also, if you have an awl, or something that’s graduated in size, you can just stick it in the hole, and give it a little tap.

                        Sherry Bellamy

                        #1032014
                        Emily
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                            I think I heard of someone putting a Phillips screwdriver in the hole (one that’s just a little bigger than the hole) and giving it a tap.

                            Emily

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                            #1032022
                            DebbieSue
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                                I’ve found that if I give up on a bead and simply put the mandrel down on the mandrel holder (not in blanket, vermiculite or kiln), the bead splits in half. So maybe if you heat the bead up in the kiln on a mandrel, and then just take it out and put it down in the mandrel holder??

                                Debbie

                                #1032015
                                Isrin
                                Default

                                    Thanks for all the feedback.

                                    A few weeks ago I had tried it with a automatic center punch (thank god I had my saftey glasses on). It was a disaster.

                                    Tonight, after reading some of your posts I tried the low tech method. I used a regular center punch wiht a hammer. I did not have to hit it very hard and the popped apart. I had one bad break, but half of the bead was still good.

                                    Thanks for all the advice. Now I just have to pull out the jewlers torch and play.

                                    Erin

                                    #1032021
                                    Ray Ansin
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                                        Ive started producing a range of mounted half beads and this uses most of my cracked florals. If a bead has a micro crack or larger I place it with the cleaned out hole, verticle on a piece of hard wood. With a 100mm long nail which has had the point ground so instead of being four sided it is round but still tapered. This is placed into the beads hole with the crack toward the top and not the wood. With a piece of metal like a file, not a hammer quickly snap it onto the top of the nail and generally the bead cracks and breaks into two. Then I rub the fractured surface face downwards onto a metal sheet 200x200mm with a little silicon carbide abrasive and water. 120 mesh or 220. this readily flatens the rough surface for mounting.
                                        When striking the nail I hold the bead with my left little finger and lower palm, resting on the wood..The nail with my left hand thumb and index finger. The striking file is held in my right hand. Start with a light strike and if it does not part then increase the strike force.. Ive had no cuts but you may feel wearing gloves and eye protection is safer.
                                        Regards
                                        Ray Ansin
                                        http://www.glassbeads.co.nz

                                        #1032011
                                        flamewerks
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                                            I bezel set half beads frequently. To split beads that are cracked, I use a nail set and small, brass jeweler’s hammer. You can get these real cheap. Stick the nail set in the hole and tap lightly. I flatten the back on a wet knife hone and bevel the bottom edge a touch with my diamond file dremel.

                                            HTH,
                                            Mona

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                                            #1032016
                                            Nolly
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                                                Thanks for all this great advice … I’d been wondering how to split the little suckers.

                                                Mona, OMG, those are beautiful. I’m taking a jewelrymaking class and learning to solder, etc.; I love what you’ve done with your bead halves.

                                                Nolly

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                                                #1032017

                                                If you have a local lapidary club in your area, join up and you’ll be able to use their facilities. Then you can use a diamond trim saw to split your bead in half and then the polishing wheels to smooth the backs. Using the saw is really handy because then you can split beads that don’t already have cracks.

                                                Monique

                                                PS: A lot of clubs also have faceting equipment too!

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                                                #1032018
                                                Kalera
                                                Default

                                                    That’s how I’ve been cracking mine.

                                                    I haven’t figured out how to use them yet, though… I think I want to learn some silversmithing so I can bezel-set them.

                                                    Thanks for all the feedback.

                                                    A few weeks ago I had tried it with a automatic center punch (thank god I had my saftey glasses on). It was a disaster.

                                                    Tonight, after reading some of your posts I tried the low tech method. I used a regular center punch wiht a hammer. I did not have to hit it very hard and the popped apart. I had one bad break, but half of the bead was still good.

                                                    Thanks for all the advice. Now I just have to pull out the jewlers torch and play.

                                                    Erin

                                                    -Kalera
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                                                    #1032012
                                                    flamewerks
                                                    Default

                                                        If you have a local lapidary club in your area, join up and you’ll be able to use their facilities. Then you can use a diamond trim saw to split your bead in half and then the polishing wheels to smooth the backs. Using the saw is really handy because then you can split beads that don’t already have cracks.

                                                        Monique

                                                        PS: A lot of clubs also have faceting equipment too!

                                                        Very true, Monique. I have a trim saw, but haven’t cut any beads that weren’t already cracked.

                                                        Kalera and Isrin – The key is to be gentle. An automatic center punch is much too forceful to gracefully crack a bead. When I crack a bead, I tap the nail set very, very gently until the bead falls apart.

                                                        Nolly – Thanks for the compliment. I love making these.

                                                        TTYL,
                                                        Mona

                                                        Us on eBay...[/url]

                                                        Submit to a daily practice. Your loyalty to that is a ring on the door. Keep knocking, and the joy inside will eventually open a window and look out to see

                                                        #1032013
                                                        Stacylynne
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                                                            I split my beads after they are out of the torch flame. I realize that you already have beads that have cracks in them. but if you are looking for a way to crack a bead that just came out of the flame.

                                                            Below is a picture of the front page of an article for lapidary journals Step by Step that I wrote last year. I think you can get it on line thru Laps web page.In the article I go thru a Step by Step on how to crack the beads.
                                                            Its really fun to do.

                                                            Mona Wonder bead and beautiful setting. :clap:

                                                            Happy split-in

                                                            StacyLynne

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