How to avoid drilling holes in your polymer beads, 

OR:

You do not need a drill to make holes in your polymer clay beads

Go to the VIDEO hosted offsite

Including the bonus of poor sound quality.  I'm learning,  LOL

Below I have added a few more tips to fill in what I did not say in the video.  

You should read here and watch the video as well.

Thank you for viewing my little video.  Please leave a comment or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.  If you have questions, feel free to email.  I will be happy to help.

I have used both methods but I prefer this method instead of drilling after baking my beads.  There are NO lost beads from chipping or off center holes.  It does not take any longer than drilling after baking.  AND you don't have to fork over any money for a drill and bits if you don't already have access to them.  

You don't even need a drill to make larger holes in your beads, I will show you how to do that here also.    

You will need a little water in a small container, a small diameter sewing needle to begin with, a larger needle like a darning needle if you want a larger hole, and of course your beads.

The water in the container is for dipping your needle into before each time you pierce your bead.  Your container does not need very much water in it.  You only need enough to get the tip of your needle wet, about 1/4" of water will do.  A little drop of any kind of liquid soap helps too.  It helps to smooth the way for the needle.  If you try to pierce with the needle dry, the clay will resist the invasion and your bead will end up distorted.

Simply use a small diameter sewing needle to pierce the hole while holding the bead on your work surface.  Firmly but gently.  You need to pierce the hole just until you feel it barely hitting your work surface.  The reason for going almost through is that you need to find the spot when you turn your bead over.  Do not pick up the bead and pierce all the way through.

The trick in not flattening your bead while poking it lies in the technique you use.  Take it slow and pierce in little teeny pecks.  If you feel any resistance dip you needle in the water again.  If there is a little teeny drop of water in your hole, the needle will easily penetrate the clay.  Just take your time.  It is well worth it.  It is easier to poke the holes with needles than to get out the drill and make such a mess.         

In the event your clay is too soft and wants to flatten no matter what you do, place your beads in the fridge for half an hour.  Preferably on a ceramic tile.  I use little 4" bath tiles.  Keep the beads on the tile after removing them from the fridge.  This will help to keep them firm until you get them all pierced.   

Remember: Don't rush it.  Peck at it. LOL  

After you have turned your bead over you should see the teeny spot where your needle tried to poke through.  Now, pierce your needle back through the bead from the "bottom" and you have a neat hole.  You can enlarge it now or wait until the bead has been baked.  Some of you want precise uniform holes and drilling your beads makes sense for you.  Making the hole before baking will create a nice guide for your drill bit to make a neat, straight hole.    

If you drill your pre-drilled bead after it is baked, use the same technique as the needle by drilling almost through then turning and completing the job.  If you feel resistance while drilling, back your bit out and clean off the build up of clay stuck in it.  Then proceed to finish your drilling.

It will take some practice to make your holes in the center so don't get discouraged.  It WILL become easier in no time at all.

This tutorial was written and photographed by myself, KK of Kay's Crafts, Angola, Indiana.

I give group lessons in a local bead shop and private lessons in my home.  For information or to sign up Email me at bellapk@gmail.com

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