Making bead caps.

Hi All,

I am in the process of making my own bead liner and want to make my own bead caps. Is there any advice anyone would like to impart? Do I really need to buy a disc cutting thing from Cooksons or is there a cheap way I can use to just have a go? I have a doming block - what sort of punches do I need? Can I get a cheap set off of Ebay? Just want to have a play at the moment! All help gratefully received

Haven't made many bead caps with sheet as it's a bit futery (no idea if that 's how you spell it), easier just with a spiral of copper wire. A disk cutter would make it much easier it's hard to cut perfect circles.
Lisa x

George is really the best person to ask but I would say yes to the disc cutter., punches are just going to dome the metal, they won't cut the discs for you. If your cutting skills are good you could cut the discs out but you'll spend ages tidying edges etc - not good if you want many. There are some good and some bad out there, I got mine from cooksons but they do mark the metal which I think the good ones don't - although I think that can be eliminated by giving them a once over with micromesh.

Punches can be easily obtained on eBay and quite cheaply. A full set should probably only cost you a tenner.

I remember asking a similar question on the Other Forum regarding the best disk cutter and doming set, and yet still have not made a purchase of either the cutter or doming set as I can't make up my mind as to whether it's worth the expense or not. Anyway, the most relevent answers were:

Jo Skaiffe said:
I bought the £30 disc cutter from Cooksons some time ago. I dismantled mine completely to sand the inner surfaces, but you could get away with just sanding flat the bottoms of the punches so they don't mark the discs you make; just run them over some 1000grit emery on a very flat surface until they look smooth enough. Be careful not to round the edges or they wont work well.

Similarly with the doming punches - fine emery (say 600 then 1000) to remove all traces of machining marks. This will leave them a bit off-round which can't be helped, but perfectly usable for most purposes. You'll probably find some with deep marks that can't be sanded out - just discard those.

And Andrew Berry said:
I would recommend the large dapping set from Durston at around £170. The kit comes in a black plastic carrycase. (bl**dy heavy it is too).

Super piece of kit with no cleaning up to do as the finish on the punches and domes are perfect.

Cheapie disc cutter works well. As you are punching out the discs you will always expect to do some cleaning up. But as Joe says, clean the face of the punches so no marks are transfered onto the discs.

MizG and Rowan both recommended using a brass hammer to strike the punches as steel hammers can shatter them.

Hope that helps.

Brilliant, thanks.

I have found a cutter for around £14 on Ebay and some dapping punches that should do the job. I thought about buying the discs already cut but there is not much of a saving. I sold two gallery pieces over the weekend, so am going to treat myself!

I found a good tutorial about lining and capping, so just need to source some hammers now! Link below in case anyone else is interested!

http://www.hodgepodgerie.com/bead-cap-tutorial.html

Well done on your sales Lakelady and have fun with your new tools!
Lisa

Yes, well done on your sales! Have fun playing.

Brilliant news on the sales at the gallery and great that you're able to treat yourself.
I've checked out your link to the tutorial and will try to remember to buy that after Christmas. Looks a bit more interesting than plain caps. (Though I DO like plain simple caps for accenting good quality beads).