Solid Glass Particles

Solid Glass Microspheres, also called glass beads, provide multiple benefits including enhanced processing, excellent chemical and heat resistance, thermal stability, low oil absorption, and are used in automotive, electrical, household appliance, adhesives, packaging, paint and construction industries. Glass is non-toxic, extremely stable and recyclable.

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Compared to other microspheres, such as plastic or hollow glass, solid glass spheres have a high density of about 2.2g/cc for borosilicate glass spheres, 2.5g/cc for soda lime glass spheres, and 4.49g/cc for barium titanate glass spheres. Solid glass spheres have high crush strength which makes them suitable for high stress applications where microspheres are exposed to a lot of stress during processing or application. There are many advantages to using glass microspheres:

• Solid glass microbeads act as mini-magnifying glasses to deliver visually truer color
• Clarify and magnify the visual impact of pigments and metallic flakes
• Create a richer, wetter, deeper look
• Visually extend expensive color-shift pigments to create cost-effective new looks
• Facilitate even dispersion of colorants and reflectors
• Act as mini-ball bearings to improve material flow and reduce flow lines
• Provide color consistency from all viewing angles
• Impart durability and chip resistance due to hardness of glass
• Offer a durable non-deformable spacer particles for bond line applications

Seed Beads

Seed beads come in many different sizes and shapes and are primarily made in the Czech Republic and in Japan. There are three major manufacturers of seed beads and these are Preciosa (Czech Republic), Miyuki (Japan) and Toho (Japan). The Japanese seed beads are generally considered to be the best quality and the range of finishes and colours on offer are staggering. We have compiled a handy guide to the various different types of seed beads below.

Round Seed Beads (Rocailles)

Round seed beads are also known as Rocailles. Seed bead sizes decrease in size as the number increases, the smallest seed beads are 15/0 Charlottes and the largest are 6/0.

Below is a handy table that shows the different sizes of seed beads in millimeters.

SizeMeasurement in mmHole Size in mmApprox Beads per inch15/0 Charlotte1mm0.6mm25Miyuki 15/01.5mm0.7mm17-18Toho 15/01.5mm1mm17Miyuki 11/02mm0.8mm12-13Toho 11/02mm1mm12Miyuki 8/03mm1.1mm8'9Toho 8/03mm1.2mm86/03x4mm1.3mm6

Round seed beads come in thousands of different colours and finishes, there will literally be a colour of seed bead to suit every single project or colour theme. Seed beads are used in many different crafting and jewellery making projects from knitting and sewing through to bead weaving, bead embroidery, tiaras and bridal jewellery.

One important thing to look for when choosing seed beads is the finish of the bead. Metallic seed beads are very pretty and have a wonderful sheen to them, however you will find that the seed beads with a Duracoat or PermaFinish will retain their colour much, much longer than the uncoated metallic seed beads. If your seed beads are going to be used in projects where they will get a lot of wear or contact with other surfaces and the skin then it is advisable to use a seed bead with a Duracoat or PermaFinish as this will prolong the life or your piece and prevent the disappointment caused by fading colours.

Both Miyuki and Toho seed beads are very high quality Japanese seed beads. However there are some subtle differences between Miyuki and Toho beads that it is worth noting. Miyuki seed beads tend to be a little more rounded and slightly smaller than Toho beads and Toho seed beads are a tiny bit larger and have more of a cylinder shape. The major difference is that Toho seed beads have larger holes and are therefore easier to thread than Miyuki beads.

Tubular Seed Beads ' Delicas/Treasures

Delica beads are tubular shaped beads, they have straight sides and are made to exact dimensions. This means that when delica beads are woven into jewellery making designs they fit together exactly without any gaps. This makes delica beads very useful for projects such as peyote stitch, geometric beadwork and bead looming.

Because of how they are made and the exact sizing of the bead delica beads are generally a little more expensive than regular seed beads. Delica beads come in many different sizes and finishes. The most popular finishes are the opaque and metallic finishes. With metallic or coated colours it is always advisable to go for a 'duracoat' or 'permafinish' bead as this will mean that the colour is long lasting and won't rub off or fade.

Tubular beads made by Miyuki are labelled as Delicas, whereas tubular beads made by Toho are labelled as Treasures. Because of the different sizes between the two brands you should not mix Miyuki Delicas and Toho Treasures in the same project.

Below is a handy table with the different sizes of Delica/Treasure beads ' size 11 is the most popular size of Delica bead and size 8/0 delicas are popular for larger projects

SizeMeasurement in mm   Hole Size in mmApprox Beads per inch11/0 Delica1.6mm0.8mm/0 Treasure1.8mm1.2mm148/0 Delica3mm1.5mm8-98/0 Treasure3.3mm1.8mm8

Hex Cut Beads

Hex cut beads are seed beads with 6 sides. Hex cut beads really catch the light and are an inexpensive way to add sparkle to your designs. Hex cut beads have quite large holes which means that it's possible to make multiple passes of the bead with your needle and thread. At Spoilt Rotten Beads we sell 8/0 Hex cut Miyuki seed beads which are the most popular size and shape.

Drop Shaped Beads

Drop shaped beads and magatama beads are prefect for fringe work, bead embroidery and kumihimo designs. Drop beads add texture to your designs. Miyuki 3.4mm Drop beads are very popular and available in many different colours and finishes. Magatama beads are similar to drop beads but are often larger and available in two different shapes ' regular Magatama beads measure 4mm whereas Miyuki Long Magatamas are more angular in shape and measure 4x7mm in size. Miyuki Long Magatama beads work really well in Kumihimo designs.

Japanese Cube Shaped Seed Beads

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Miyuki cube beads measure 3mm in size and have a hole size of 1.3mm. Cube beads are a great way to add texture to your beadwork designs and patterns.  Miyuki cube beads are made in Japan and are precision made and colourfast. They look particularly good when used in beaded loom work and spiral rope patterns.

Japanese Bugle Beads

Bugle beads are tubular shaped beads that are available in a variety of different sizes. The most popular size of bugle bead is 6mm. Bugle beads are also available in hex cut finish and also in a twisted finish. When using bugle beads it is advisable to use a strong thread as bugle beads tend to have sharp edges that can easily cut through your thread.

Miyuki Tila Beads

Like Delica and Treasure beads Miyuki Tila beads are precision made and are very uniform in shape and size. Miyuki currently manufacture three sizes of tila beads ' Tila Beads which measure 5x5x1.9mm, Half Tila beads which measure 5×2.3×1.9mm and Quarter Tila beads which measure 5×1.5×1.9mm

Shaped and Multiholed Czech Glass Beads

Czech glass beads come in many, many different shapes and sizes some with just one hole and some with as many as three or four holes. These shapes are often exclusive to certain manufacturers such as Preciosa or Matubo. They compliment the round seed beads and delicas and can be used to create really interesting textures and effects.

SuperDuos (Twin beads)

The most popular shaped seed bead is a SuperDuo ' this is a two holed oval shaped bead that is manufactured by Matubo (Preciosa produce their own similarly shaped bead called a Twin). Superduos measure 2.5x5mm in size and are sold in tubes of 24g (approx 300 beads). The oval shape of the Superduo and the hole placement make it a very versatile bead for which there are many different beading patterns available.

Matubo Superduos are subtly different from Preciosa Twin beads ' the ends of the Superduo beads are slightly pinched and there is a distinctive ridge in the middle of the Superduo whereas the Preciosa Twin beads have no ridge and are less pinched at the ends of the oval. Because of the precise shape of the bead the Superduos are the most popular choice.

You can see our free SuperDuo patterns right here

GemDuos (DiamonDuos)

The next most popular twin holed bead shape is the GemDuo made by Matubo. Another well known brand of the same shape is the DiamonDuo which is very similar and the two shapes are interchangable in jewellery making patterns, however the GemDuo has a more defined and faceted edge to it.

The GemDuo bead has two holes and measures 8x5mm and is sold in packs of 5g (approx 34 beads). Because of it's diamond shape the GemDuo will easily tessellate and can be used in many different beading patterns including loom work and beadweaving. You'll find lots of patterns using the GemDuo right here

Gemduo beads come in many different finishes and colours ' The backlit Gemduo beads have an amazing effect, they have a silver coating on one side which reflects a colourful metallic effect through the clear glass of the bead which creates a 'backlit' effect. The GoldSplash and SilverSplash beads are exactly that ' they have a splash of metallic gold or silver added to the bead which creates texture and interest. The tuttifruity colours and opaque shades are extremely vibrant and have real depth of colour, the look great framed by a darker colour seed bead which creates a dramatic outline around the beads.

Kite Beads

Kite beads are also made by Matubo in the Czech Republic. They measure 9x5mm and feature two holes and are diamond shaped (like the GemDuo) but one end of the kite bead is longer than the other which creates a kite shape. Kite beads are very easy to use as they slot together in various combinations to create interesting shapes and textures. You will find many patterns for Kite Beads here.

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