Bead Cap Primer

by Judy Larson

We have all done it-purchased beads because they are pretty and we like the color, not bothering to check their quality.

If some of the beads have flat sides here and there, there is nothing that can easily be done to fix them. If the flat sides are really noticeable, use them with nugget beads and they will look right at home.

Sometimes the drilled holes are chipped around the openings. If the chipping has sharp edges, don't use the beads as they can wear away at and cut stringing material. In some instances, using bead caps over the holes can help.

Instructions

Cut the discs:

The color of these rondelle beads pulled at me so I purchased them, not realizing the tops and bottoms were flat-definitely not top quality. Easy fix...cover with a bead cap.

Consider using pre-textured sheet metal to make bead caps.

Bead caps are usually made of thinner gauge metal sheet. 26 gauge sheet metal works well to make bead caps, but 24 and 28 gauge will work, too.

The diameter of the bead is the diameter of the disc to cut. For 10mm beads, cut 3/8" discs. For 8mm beads, cut 5/16" discs. I do not generally make smaller bead caps, but measuring and forming them follow the same steps.

Judy Larson's Bead Cap Primer - Cut the discs:, Wire Jewelry Design, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, bead cap primer

Punch the holes:

Mark the centers. Use a 1.25mm hole punch to make the holes. If the hole is off center, use the next size up hole punch (1.5mm) in the same hole, punching away the excess metal closer to the center of the disk. If is still off center, a smaller purchased bead cap can be used over that hole and it will look fine as well as purposeful.

Embellish the Bead Caps:

Bead cap discs can be textured using a variety of hammers before forming.

Form the bead caps:

To round the caps, place a disc in a larger well of a dapping block.

For the 3/8" disc, that would be the well that best fits the #11 dapping punch.

For the 5/16" disc, that would be the well that best fits the #9 dapping punch.

Make sure the disc is fully rounded before moving to on.

Move on to a smaller well in the dapping block. For 10mm beads, start in the well that fits the #11 dapping punch.

For the 3/8" disc, that would be the well that best fits the #10 dapping punch.

For the 5/16" disc, that would be the well that best fits the #7 dapping punch.

Finishing:

It is advisable to check the edges of each bead cap because tumbling will not remove sharp edges. Once the bead caps are formed and refined, if needed, tumble them for several hours to as long as overnight. Because the bead caps can nestle and stick together, preventing the light polishing tumbling provides, string them bottom to bottom, top to top, on beading wire. Thread the beading wire ends through a crimp tube. Flatten the crimp tube. Throw the unit into the tumbler. Why beading wire? The bead caps can move more freely on the beading wire than on wire, such as copper. The tumbling medium can then more easily polish the caps more evenly.

What bead caps can do for my rondelle beads:

Seven 10mm rondelle beads string to 1¾" in length.

Adding bead caps to each of the seven beads adds an inch in length.

Judy Larson's Bead Cap Primer - What bead caps can do for my rondelle beads:, Wire Jewelry Design, Dapping, Dapping Jewelry, Filing, Finishing, How To Punch Holes, Hole Punching, Punch A Hole, bead cap primer

Materials

26 Gauge Dead Soft Argentium Silver Sheet - 6 Inches

H19-26SM6

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1 Inch
Price: $40.08
Gold Club Price: $30.06

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Tools

Professional Texturing Hammer With 12 Faces

HAM-480.00

HAM-480.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $47.97
Gold Club Price: $35.98

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24 Piece Dapping Punch Set

DAP-705.00

DAP-705.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $85.97
Gold Club Price: $64.48

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Euro Punch Plier 1.50mm

PLR-133.70

PLR-133.70
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Category: Design
Technique(s): Dapping, Filing / Finishing, Hole Punching

Reviews

Judy Larson

My philosophy has always been "I will never live long enough to learn everything I want to learn, go everywhere I want to go and see everything I want to see!" So, what I make and how I create it is always changing and evolving. I was born shortly after WWII to parents who grew up during the Depression. They always had a "we can do it, we can make it" attitude which rubbed off on my two younger brothers and me. My brothers are amazing and can make and do ANYTHING! When I was a little girl, my mother gave me an old carved cigar box, which I cherish, filled with pop beads, wooden beads and yarn for stringing. That was the beginning of my jewelry making journey.

On a visit to the Grand Canyon when I was a young woman, I was fortunate enough to help a Native American silversmith sand cast my first silver bracelet and bezel set a large turquoise nugget on top. I was in love, hook, line and sinker! While working full time and having a family here in northern Minnesota, my artistic endeavors slowed down but never stopped. I am an artist, scrapbooker, seamstress, woodworker and jewelry artisan. Now that I am retired, I am able to indulge in all my hobbies. However, there just never seems to be enough time in the day to do it all, but I try!

I have been teaching community education beginner and intermediate jewelry making classes since my retirement. Many of my students have been bitten so hard by the jewelry making bug that they say I have turned them into monsters-they just can't get enough. Making jewelry, seeing something take shape from small bits and pieces, is so rewarding that I hope it brings out the "monster" in you, too!