How to Use a Clay Bead Roller
- 1). Condition the clay by rolling and kneading it between your hands. Cold clay cracks or crumbles apart and will not work well in the bead roller.
- 2). Measure out enough clay for one bead using the measuring ring or by sight. Practicing will help to determine if too much or too little clay is being used. Too much clay will cause the bead to be misshaped or cracked at the ends. Too little clay will not roll promptly.
- 3). Place the clay in the ditch of the bead roller's bottom piece that has a groove along its edge. Place the top piece on top with its protruding edge into the groove. If using a Tri-bead roller, put the clay within the ditch of the shape desired and leave the other ditches empty.
- 4). Gently slide the top piece back and forth over the bottom piece. Moving it too quickly will make the bead not shape correctly.
- 5). Let the bead set shortly to prevent misshaping the bead while making the hole. With a piercing pin or toothpick, pierce the bead at the center while slowly pushing through to the other end. Remove the pin or toothpick and pierce through from other end of the bead, meeting up at the first piercing. Be careful not to squeeze the bead.
- 6). Bake clay beads according to clay manufacturer instructions on a bead-baking tray or nonshiny surface such as a baking sheet with card stock folded accordion style in which the bead can lay between the folds.
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