Amaco Tri Bead Roller – How To Make it Work Right
Vid #24: Instructions For Proper Use of the Tri Bead Roller by AMACO:
When I get a new polymer clay tool I usually just want to start using it without paying too much attention to the instructions. But sometimes that's not the best idea.
For example when I first started using my AMACO brand tri-bead roller, I didn't realize how important it was to use properly measured amounts of clay. This caused all sorts of problems for me, mostly to do with poorly formed bead shapes that were never consistent in size.
So the biggest tip I can give you with any kind of bead rolling tool, is to listen to the manufacturers advice when it comes to pre-measuring your clay pieces. You'll be glad you did.
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<
The full version of the "Tri Bead Roller" preview video shown above, is included in my Polymer Clay Bead Making Fundamentals Course [SEE Video #20 of 39]. Among other things, I demonstrate:
- How to use the special polymer clay measuring tool properly.
- How to avoid getting holes and cracking at the tips of your rolled beads.
- A special trick for adding cool spiral color patterns to your Bi-cone, Oval and Round bead shapes.
Filed Under: 02: Tools, 05: Techniques, 06: Bead Shapes by Comment. 
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Comments on Amaco Tri Bead Roller – How To Make it Work Right
5:33 pm
There are newer versions of this Amaco tri bead roller tool designed with a feature that makes it easy to pierce holes through your beads without even touching them. No fingerprints! Now that is a very clever idea.
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Pirate Crossbones Jewelry Pillaged in Broad Daylight
8:52 pm
OMG! I just realized where I'd caught your name, and it was a few weeks back while admiring your super site! Keep it up(!), and thanks for the comment.
Best,
Wes
9:08 am
Thanks Wes! It's great to meet a fellow Canadian Polymer Clay Nut!!
(For those of you reading this who may not know Wes, his polymer clay canes ROCK! No one makes a logo cane as well as Wes does! You should check out his site.
Cindy Lietz's last blog post..Metallic Polymer Clay Color Recipes with Bling
11:06 pm
I bought the Amaco bead roller set 8 because I need to make 4 mm balls. I'm having a little difficulty on working on such a small scale. Are there any tips I should know about? I'm trying to measure accurately but it seems I always end up with too little clay and my beads come out weird shaped.. this set didn't come with a measuring tool..?
4:02 pm
Hi Again Melanie,
As you can see, I transferred your email question over here to the blog. In the future if you could post your polymer clay related questions directly to the blog, that would be very helpful. It's very easy to do…
At the bottom of every article post, there is a comments section. Simply put your name in the "Name" field and your email address in the "Email" field. You don't need to fill in the "Url" field. Then type away in the big comment dialog box. Finally, click the "Submit Comment" button and I will get your message. That's all there is to it.
A big advantage in posting your questions here at the blog is that others can join in and provide you with feedback as well… often quicker than I can.
In regards to your question about measuring clay for an Amaco Bead Roller, follow the "Polymer Clay Beads" link by my name above. There is some helpful information in the comments section of that post.
For lots of additional information, you can use "bead roller" or "Amaco bead roller" as keywords in the search box. There is a search box at the top of every post at this blog. If you still have unanswered questions after doing a bit of research, then by all means post a follow up comment and someone will respond asap.
Talk soon,
~Cindy
4:38 pm
Thanks for the patience Cindy! Usually when I ask a question, I just use the "Contact Cindy" link at the top of the page. I'll use the comment boxes for now on. :-)
4:49 pm
Wonderful. I appreciate it :)
2:51 pm
hi cindy i am very new to polymer clay and after joining your brilliant site
and reading how you all finish your beads with a dremel drill.i bought myself a drill and then bought your tut on making my own felt buffing pad ,so far so good .I set my drill on a vice just like your instructions and started to buff my beads, i only managed to do two, when i noticed smoke coming from the drill then Bang ! all the power went and i had fused the
lot .Not to be detered i borrowed my husbands drill and to cut a long story short it happend with his drll too.WHAT AM I Doing WRONG.
I dare not buy another untill you can advise me.
4:45 pm
Good thing you stopped Carole… smoke is a bad thing! It sounds to me like your units were over heating. And the last thing you want to do is run the risk of starting a fire.
The overheating could be for a few different reasons. Maybe you made the buffing wheel too big? Maybe the wiring is bad where you plugged in the unit? Maybe you were using extension cords that are not rated for that type of power draw? Maybe you were using too high a speed or pressing too hard?
It would help if you were to email me a picture of your set up. This may help me to better identify what the problem is.
12:30 pm
Hi, all!
It sounds like you're running it too long and burning out the brushes(the magnetic shoes that make it well…a motor.
If you can find an AC On/Off pedal, like a sewing machine pedal, it will allow you control to run the drill much cooler.
(:
2:24 pm
Sorry to take so long to respond Wes. Thanks for the tip! Sounds like a sewing pedal would come in handy!