What is bead glass ?
Glass beads represent an artistic spectrum of beauty with value. Glass beads come in varieties of colors, shape and finishes that add a magical touch to the product on which it is used whether on clothing or on jewelry. There are different types of glass beads like hand made dichroic glass, Czech glass beads, bumpy glass beads etc. They are available in different colors and sizes from which artisans pick according to their need.
These beads are given different types of fancy finishing like druk glass or aurora borealis. Where luminous dichroic glass bead is a type of bead, which comes in varieties of sizes, druk glass bead are perfectly rounded and optically polished. Czech glass bead is the glass beads with pearl finish are of great value because of their quality and tremendous varieties in colors, shapes and sizes. There are glass pearl, cane glass beads and art glass beads.
Glass beads are expensive as compared to other beads as their usage enhance the beauty of the product with it glow of beauty. Glass beads can be used on any embroidery pattern or with sequins. The glass beads, which are transparent, had a quality to reflect the base color and can be used with any color. Since glass becomes molten when heated to a certain temperature, it’s easy for glass artists to create any shape or layers, while holding the glass over the flame.
Many glasses artistic produce many unbelievably complicated designs by their creativity. Different glass beads give birth to different design ideas. There are different stages to manufacture a glass bead these are-
Composition
Lead crystal glass is made from a mixture of sand, potash and lead oxide. Lead crystal glass contains a minimum lead oxide content of 24% and is produced primarily for its beauty of appearance. The higher content of lead oxide enhances the beauty of the item but it is costly to manufacture.
1). any lead crystal or other piece begins as a ball of molten glass. This ball is drawn from the pot on the end of a blow iron, which is a steel tube. This steel tube is rotated continuously to get the glass distribute evenly. The molten glass is rolled on a polished iron table to smooth the surface.
The net step of glassworker is that they blow through the tube and the hot glass forms into a hollow sphere. By turning, tilting and swinging on the tube the shape begins to develop. The glass is further created. The glass is re-melted before excessive glass is sheared away from the item being made and any final touches are given. The glowing glass is then dropped into an annealing oven.
2). Annealing – Annealing oven is a long chamber through which glass is slowly carried so that is comes from high temperature to the ambient temperature of the work shop this is necessary because the glass could cool too rapidly and shatter the item.
3). Cutting – This is the next step after annealing and demands for high skills. Holding the lead crystal against the edge of a revolving cutting wheel does cutting. The glass is carefully guided to produce some lovely and complex pattern.
4). Polishing- Polishing is done by placing the glass into a vat containing a mixture of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acid it is then thoroughly rinsed and glass transforms into sparkling pieces of crystal.
By undergoing so many processes a beautiful glass is ready to add the beauty of the product. This is the process that virtually any piece of lead crystal glass goes through before it becomes a beautiful piece of art. Throughout the years little in the process has changed.