10mm round beads and their holes, which range from 1.1 - 1.9 mm |
At BeadShopUK one of the most common questions we get
asked is regarding the size of the holes on our beads, so we put together this
helpful FAQ to help you understand some of the problems you may encounter when
working with semi-precious, gemstone and freshwater pearl beads.
What sizes are the
holes on your beads?
Unfortunately there is no simple answer. In general, bead hole sizes can range from
0.5mm on a 4mm round bead to a 1mm hole on a 10mm round bead, but they can get
up to 1.5mm.
Why do beading
holes vary in size?
It’s all to do with the extensive range of semi-precious
stone beads and how the material varies in its hardness. As a general rule, the
harder the stone the smaller the beading hole will be. This applies even on
large stones.
Why are freshwater
pearl beads holes so small?
The hole sizes of freshwater pearls beads are much
smaller compared to stone beads. Their hole sizes typically range from 0.5 – 0.6
mm. Traditionally pearls were threaded using knotted silk which may explain the
small holes.
Why are the hole sizes
important?
The main reason beaders need to know the beading hole
size is to match with their stringing material – with the increased use of
cord, rattail, leather and elastic being used in designs a larger beading hole
is required.
Holes on pearls can be quite small |
Secondly, for security of your chosen design, the correct
gauge beading thread should be used. For example if you are using a large hole
bead on fine thread there will be a lot of movement which could cause abrasion
and breakage. The most desirable
combination is to use the largest diameter thread that will pass through the
smallest bead hole in your design. For
this you need to know the size of the beading hole.
How do you measure
the size of the bead holes?
You do not need expensive tools or callipers to find this
out. We measure holes with a range of calibrated drill bits. You can actually
buy them in sets for use with a Dremel. They range from 0.3 mm to 2 mm in
width. You can insert these drill bits into the bead hole and measure its size.
Easy.
How can I enlarge
the size of my beading holes?
Most professional beaders have a Bead Reamer in their
armoury of tools. This handy tool has a
selection of diamond coated tips which allows you to grind yourself a bigger
hole. A Bead Reamer works really well for enlarging holes and for smoothing the
edges of holes in gemstone and glass beads.
A good trick to remember is to use your reamer under
water. Not only does this prolong the life of the diamond coasting but it also
removes the risk of you inhaling any dust. Don’t force the reamer, but take
your time and work slowly from one side of the bead and then the other. If you
are too heavy handed you risk chipping the bead or even breaking it into two.
Example of hole sizes on Carnelian round beads |
When we make our Worry Beads, we have to enlarge the hole
sizes of our 10mm beads to 2mm as they need to be very loose on a strong
cord. To do this by hand would take too
long, so we use our diamond bits with an electric pendant drill. We use the same technique as for the hand
reamer but much more care is required (water and electricity don’t mix!) and we
always
wear safety glasses.
How do I enlarge
the hole size of my freshwater pearl beads?
If you wish to enlarge the holes of pearls, then the best
tool to use is a pearl reamer – similar to the bead reamer but built specifically
for pearls. It has a fine corkscrew like
tip which is much finer. This is used
“dry” (unlike the bead reamer). However,
the nacreous dust can be harmful and it would always be recommended that take
precautions against inhaling or ingesting this.
We hope you found this helpful, but here are a couple
more tips worth thinking about:
- If the beading hole size is important to your design it is always worth checking with your supplier before purchasing.
- It’s also worth remembering that hole sizes can vary from each batch of beads, so those beads you ordered last year might have had really big holes compared to the ones you bought a couple of days ago.