Ask the Experts Reaming Beads Q&A

Why does the glass bead split when I ream out all the white powder? Will the powder wear away eventually if I don't ream it out? Thank you

- Sharon

Bead reamers are tapered tools that can force a bead to split if the wider area is pushed into too small of an opening. To prevent splitting the bead, try working the smaller part of the reamer around the opening of the bead hole rather than working with the widest section that fits the opening.

Depending on how you are assembling your beaded design, some of the white bead release powder will wear away over time, i.e. a design using metal wire will wear the release agent away much more quickly than Accu-Flex® beading wire would.

- Tammy Honaman, Author, Jewelry-Making Expert and Educator