Tools for Glass Beadmakers

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Mandrels

For making glass beads. Tired of bent mandrels? Our Mandrels are better and are specially made to resist bending. Compare, take one of our mandrels and a competitors. Bend them together until the competitors stay bent while ours returns straight. Made with high temperature metal. This special metal has low heat transfer which keeps your fingers cool while the end is red hot. Make a glass bead with a hole by wrapping molten glass around these rods. Remember putting almost anything in a 4000 degree flame for a few seconds will melt this and almost any metal. You never need to put a flame directly on the bare mandrel. Made in the USA by Sundance. Place an order now.

Order #	Diameter	Length	Price per Dozen	Bulk Discount Ends are pre-ground Ready to use	Bulk Discount Ends have small burr - you grind or use with burr*	Aprox # of pieces in 2 Pounds
M045	3/64" - .045 - 1.1 mm	12"	$5	1 Pound for $30	1 Pound for $22	190**
M062	1/16" - .062 - 1.6 mm	12"	$6	2 Pounds for $44	2 Pounds for $36	198
M080	5/64" - .080 - 2 mm	12"	$7	2 Pounds for $38	2 Pounds for $32	116
M092	3/32" - .092 - 2.3 mm	12"	$8	2 Pounds for $38	2 Pounds for $32	83
M125	1/8" - .125 - 3.2 mm	12"	$9	2 Pounds for $38	2 Pounds for $32	48
M156	5/32 - .156 - 4 mm	12"	$14	2 Pounds for $38	2 Pounds for $32	30
M187	3/16" - .187 - 4.75 mm	12"	$19	.	.	.
M500	Package of 13 assorted sizes 1.1mm to 4.75mm	12"	$12	.	.	.

*When the rods are cut, there is a small burr on each end. Some people can use the just them with the burr or you can easily sand or grind the burr off.
** Pieces in one pound of M045

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Large Diameter Tube Mandrels

Used for blowing, punties, and making large holes in glass beads. If used for bead mandrels, plug the end so hot air/steam can't travel back through the tube toward your hand. Use the mandrel release or you can use a little bit of ceramic fiber. These tubes are heavy walled. Tubes are used instead of solid rods to make a lighter weight mandrel. Made with low heat conductive metal which helps keep the heat from traveling up to your hand. Made in the USA.

Stainless Steel Tube

Order #	Diameter	Diameter	Length	Price Each
M14T	1/4"	6.34 mm	12"	$7
M38T	3/8"	9.5 mm	12"	$8
M12T	1/2"	12 mm	12"	$9

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Mandrel Holder

Small mandrels are hard to hold, turn and tire your hand. This light weight mandrel holder has the perfect diameter handle for easy turning. Completely adjustable: use any length mandrel, the long mandrels simply slide through the handle. A quick turn of the pin vice will free the mandrel for fast replacement. Sizes M060 (1/16" 1.6mm) and any smaller slide right in. Made in the USA by Sundance.

#3308 - $14 each

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Button Mandrels

This tool will make a button similar to the two hole button on a shirt. It has a replaceable two prong mandrel held in a handle. Wrap your glass around both of these rods. When done, remove the double mandrel from the handle with a needle nose plier and put in your kiln. Insert a new double mandrel in the handle. This kit will also allow you to make a four hole button but is more tricky. Includes handle and one removable and reusable double mandrel. Extra mandrels available. Made by Sundance. Place an order now.

Order #	Description	Price
BM2	Button mandrel handle with one mandrel	$20
BM26	Six extra or replacement double mandrels	$10

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Pin Vices

A pin vice is like a drill. The tip will clamp down on a small rod like a drill bit. Set of three different sizes. Useful in your studio; holds mandrels, tungsten picks, drill bits, your bead hole cleaning tools, etc.

• Smallest holds up to a 1/16" shaft
• Second size holds up to 5/64"
• Largest size is up to 1/8"
  

Order #		Price
81496	Set of 2 smallest	$8
81497	Set of 3	$14

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Mandrel Release

Coat metal mandrels with this release to prevent the molten glass from sticking to the metal mandrels. We believe the best bead release made is Blue Coat! If you are not sure which to get - get the Blue Coat! Click here to learn how to use mandrel release.

Order #	Name	Amount	Holding power	Retail Price
BLK4	Black Coat	.55 lbs	Regular	$9
BLK16	Black Coat	2 lbs	Regular	$24
BLK10	Black Coat*	10 lbs	Regular*	$49
If you are not sure which one - We recommend the below Blue Coat !
BLUE4	Blue Coat	.55 lbs	Medium	$9
BLUE16	Blue Coat	2 lbs	Medium	$24
BLUE10	Blue Coat*	10 lbs	Medium*	$49
PINK4	Pink Coat	.55 lbs	Tough	$12
1590	Flame Dry	.55 lbs	Regular	$12
1591	Flame Dry	1.85 lbs	Regular	$19

*Thick mud - you dilute with water

Regular - Easiest to remove the bead from the mandrel when cooled but then also easiest to detach when working in the flame. Medium - Medium holding power and medium removability. Tough - When you really need to be sure the release does not detach from the mandrel when working large beads or boro beads or beads that take a long time to make - Therefore hardest to remove the bead from the mandrel when cooled. Flame Dry -  Dries immediately in the flame. No need to pre dry. Similar to regular holding release.

To give you an idea of volume
.55 pounds fits inside a 4 fluid ounce jar (200 grams)

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Paddles

These hand held paddles are used to shape molten glass. The extra long handles are rubber coated for comfort. Remember, do not put this or any tool directly into the flame, work and shape your glass out of the flame. Watch Out - Some other suppliers out there on the internet are selling paddles thate are grainy material, not sanded and weak handles. Ours are fine sanded on the good fine grain material with strong handles. Place an order now.

Order #	Size	Price
P1225G	1-1/2" x 2-1/2" handle on short side	$14
P23G	2" x 3" handle on short side	$14
P32G	3" x 2" handle on long side	$14
P23GH*	2" x 3" handle on short side with hole	$18
P34G	3" x 4" handle on long side	$16

*This paddle has a hole in the corner. To help hold or steady the hot end of the mandrel, put the end of your mandrel into this hole while turning.

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Bead Cleaning Set

Set of 4 Diamond Glass Bead Cleaning and Reaming Tools all for the low price of $12 ITEM #3554

• Two longer tools ream and clean the inside of the hole.
• Two shorter tools dress the bead holes.

Order #	Description	Price
3554	Set of 4 Diamond Tools	$12

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Bead Cleaning Set

Set of 4 Diamond Glass Bead Cleaning and Reaming Tools with one universal pin vice. With storage tube.The pieces can also be put in your electric drill or similar tool for faster cleaning.

 

All for the low price of $9 ITEM #3555

• Two longer tools ream and clean inside the hole.
• Two shorter tools dress the bead holes.

Order #	Description	Price
3555	Set of 4 Diamond Tools	$9

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Bead Cleaning Set

• TOP - Bead Cleaning Wire No.2106 - Spiral wire on a wooden handle. Push this wire back and forth through the hole in your bead to remove mandrel release powder.
• MIDDLE - Bead Hole Scraper No. 2107 - Small particles of abrasive tungsten carbide are fused on a wire and the wire is mounted on a wooden handle. This tool is more aggressive and will actually remove small amounts of glass.
• BOTTOM - Bead Cleaning Brush No. 2105 - This double ended brush, each a different style, cleans and removes mandrel release from the bead hole. Remember always clean your beads under water to prevent dust. Place an order now.

Order #	Description	Price
2106	Bead cleaning wire	$7
2107	Bead hole scraper	$8
2105	Bead Cleaning Brush	$4
2110	Set of the above 3	$18

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Diamond Bead Hole Reamer

Fantastic tool. Mount in our pin vice (PV3) or better yet in a battery operated drill to clean and smooth the inside of any bead. Always use diamonds with water. Diamond tapers down to 1/8" in diameter. Place an order now.

Order #	Description	Length of plating	Price
D125	Diamond Reamer	2"	$7

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Diamond Dressing Tools

Mount these tools in a hand drill, Dremel type drill or even a hand held pin vise. Rotating the diamond in each hole in your bead will shape and dress the ends. All ends are slightly different. The set of 20 have much smaller diamond ends. Each Approx 1-3/4" long. Place an order now.

Order #	Description	Price
DD8	Diamond set of 8 bead hole dressing bits	$16
DD20	Diamond set of 20 bead hole dressing bits	$24

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Roller Shapers

This tool, developed by Sundance, is used to help shape your glass bead. Roll your bead back and forth in the groves to shape. You may see a similar tool elsewhere but with their tool you rotate the bead in a hole. But what happens is that some mandrel release will break off the rod and stick to the glass. These tools help eliminate that problem. Made of graphite. Place an order now.

Roller Shaper Number 1 - Used to shape beads as a cylinder. Two different sizes. The flat back side can be used as a paddle.

Roller Shaper Number 2 (Kindle Shaper) - Pictured twice on the left so you can see both sides of the paddle.

Order #	Code	Description	Price
15709	RS1	Roller Shaper #1	$20
15710	RS2	Kindle Shaper #2	$36

Roller Shaper #3 - Similar to the above Kindle Shaper, but the handle is rotated 90 degrees and a shorter surface. Good for right and left handed persons. Rolling the hot bead in the grove helps shape the bead round. Four different sized groves to choose from. Graphite block is 1-1/2" by 2".

Order #	Code	Description	Price
15711	RS3	Roller Shaper #3	$28

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Tweezer Mashers

 

Tweezer Masher 8" Long all Stainless Steel

All Stainless Steel. Process and tool described in the book "Beads of Glass" Click here to see the book.

Order #	Description	Price
15707	Tweezer Masher - 8"	$7
15708	Tweezer Heart Maker - 8"	$12

**Notice - We bend the tweezer masher #15701 to make the Heart Maker. You can try this yourself. But at least 1 in 4 will break in the bending process. Also - some we bend will be close to breaking which we can NOT detect ahead of time. If you receive one of these and it breaks, we will simply send you a new one.

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Order #	Description	Price
3307	Button Makers Plier	$22

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Reaching Tongs

Reach far into your kiln to put in or remove items. Also great for picking up and working with hot items! Two inch serrated tips, helps grab your item. Locks when closed. All stainless steel.

Order #	Description	Size	Retail
5545	Reaching Tongs.	18" overall	$14

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Cooling Your Glass

There are three ways to help cool your glass slowly to help prevent cracking by thermoshocking.

1. Crockpot full of hot vermiculite
2. Two Fiber Pads
3. Kiln (Only a kiln will prevent glass from cracking by annealing)

To use, place your hot glass between these pads as soon as you are done with it on the torch. The pads hold the heat to slow down the cooling rate. The timing for placing the glass between the fiber or in the vermuculite is critical. If you place them to soon, when the glass surface is still molten, and fibers may stick to the glass. If you wait to long, the glass may cool to much and the risk of breaking is greater. Experiment with the timing. Supplied 2 pieces at 8" x 12". IMPORTANT - Vermuculite or fiber pads DO NOT anneal the glass. Remember only a kiln or flame annealing can anneal glass.

 

Order #	Description	Price
FB812	Fiber blanket 1/2" - 2 pieces - 8" x 12"	$8
2299	Vermiculite - about 1/3 cubic foot. The crockpot in the picture took half that	$4