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I’ve been making a lot of jewelry lately and the design I had in mind for the beads above just wouldn’t work without making the holes in the lava beads a little bigger.
I’ve tried a few bead reamers but this Beadalon Battery Operated Bead Reamer is my favorite so far. Just insert the reamer into the bead, hold the bead firm and push the button. Easy Peasy.
The Beadalon website has a tips page and they say to immerse the bead in water to keep it cool but I’ve never had to do that. I would, however, say that when drilling beads made of lava, stone or shell you may want to wear a mask over your mouth and nose just so you aren’t inhaling dangerous particles. Particularly if you are sensitive to that sort of thing.
Do you use a bead reamer? If you do, do you have a favorite?
More like this:
Knotted Ceramic and Lava Bead Necklace
Lava Bead and Black Crystal Necklace
Lava Rock, Basalt, and Lava Beads
Cool! I’m trying to drill initial holes into rocks to string them. Any tool tips for that effort? Tiny drill bitt+drill was a no-go.
The bead reamer will help to make a small divot in order to get a small drill bit started. Check YouTube for some video tutorials for drilling through rocks. I’m not sure HOW that would be done.
I always find out the neatest stuff when I read your posts 🙂 Thanks!
Ohhhh! Buttons. You are so very clever! LOVE IT!
I’ve never even heard of SUCH a thing: I love this! What a hot, hot tip! I wonder if this would work with BUTTONS! Hmmmmmmm…. VERY COOL!