Tube Bead Roller Set 2 Instructions

Tube Bead Roller Set 2 Makes 6mm or 8mm Tube Beads

The instructions and tips below recommend the use of a sharp single edge razor blade, therefore cutting of beads is NOT recommended for children. American Art Clay Co., Inc. will not be held responsible for injuries resulting from use of a razor blade.

Bead Roller Parts
The top of this set is used to roll a tube of well-conditioned clay. It has three posts on each end of both sides. On one side the posts are 6mm, on the other side the posts are 8mm. The height of the posts determine the diameter of the tubes rolled, so a 6 or a 8mm tube can be rolled with this set. Tubes of clay are rolled between the roller top and any hard surface suitable for polymer clay. The base is a rectangle that has guide rails on each end of both sides, and raised lines between the guide rails. The raised lines mark a formed tube with lines for cutting after the tube is cured. One side of the base has raised lines that are 6mm apart, the other side has raised lines that are 8mm apart. The guide rails guide the posts of the top straight during the tube bead marking process.

Photo No. 1

Photo No. 2

Roll A Tube
Begin by hand-forming a ball of conditioned clay. Begin shaping the ball into a tube shape with your fingers, rolling it on a flat work surface (see photo #1). Hand roll it down to just a little larger than the diameter you plan to roll. Place the roller top over the tube of clay (see photo #2). Move the top back and forth until the tube is a uniform diameter. If it becomes too long to fit between the posts, reduce the amount of clay.


Photo No. 3

Photo No. 4

Photo No. 5

Mark a Tube
Hand roll a couple spots of polymer clay and put them under the two corners of the base farthest from you. Press down. The spots of clay will hold the base in place on a work surface. Now pick the tube of clay up and lay it lengthwise along the edge of the base nearest you (see photo #3). Place the top roller over the tube, being sure that the same side is being used that was used to roll the tube. The front posts of the top will slide over the guide rails of the base. Be sure the clay tube is straight on the base. Move the top roller forward. That action will roll the tube allowing the lines of the base to mark it (see photos #4 and 5).

Cure the Tube
Refer to instructions of the clay manufacturer for proper curing temperature. Tube beads should cure for 30–45 minutes—30 minutes for the 7mm, and 45 minutes for 9mm. When placing tubes for curing, be certain they are in a straight line.

Cutting the Tube
Polymer clay can be cut with a sharp blade while it is still warm from being cured. Polymer clay hardens as it cools, so the sooner after it is cured the better for cutting. A folded paper towel may be used as a “pot holder” when handling tubes right out of the oven. A single edge razor blade works well to cut the tubes, so this is NOT recommended for children!

Tip: To have a hole through the length of the tube, insert a round sharp object, such as a Bead Piercing Pin through the hand rolled ball of clay you begin with. Roll carefully to keep the object centered in the tube. If clay sticks to it during curing, hold the object with pliers and twist the clay to free it after curing.

Tip: The tube does not need to be cut at each “line”. Tubes can be several “lines” long.

Tip: If the center of the tube is to be exposed (as in a cane), pierce through each bead from the side prior to curing. If the shape becomes distorted during this piercing, gently re-roll over it with the tube bead roller top prior to curing. To have all holes lined up, a faint line can be made along the tube with a clay blade and used as a piercing guide line.

How To Make a Bicone or Lentil Bead With The Tube Bead Roller
1. Roll a log of conditioned clay with the top of the tube bead roller using one or several colors of clay.
2. Press a ruler with raised markings into the clay. Cut the rolled tube into 1/2"-3/4" lengths then roll into balls.
3. Set the roller top over a ball of clay on your work surface and begin moving the top in a small circular pattern. The round shaped bead will begin to take the shape of a bicone. Continue rolling the bead as if the bottom point of the bead is on an axis. The angle of the roller top and the amount of pressure applied will control how pointed the bead becomes. When the bead has two firm points, you have a complete bicone shape. If using more than one color of clay, the more revolutions you make the more multi-colored clay will wrap around the bead and created a swirled pattern.
4. To turn the bicone bead into a lentil bead, place the tube roller top onto the bicone bead and rotate over the bead with gentle downward pressure. The legs of the roller top will determine the thickness of the lentil bead.

Tip: The AMACO Tri-Bead Roller has three channels for making a 1/2" bicone bead, a 7/16" round bead or a 5/16" x 5/8" oval bead.