Cheap and Easy Sealing Rack - By: Nichole Jeske


Author: Nichole Jeske

This is my counterpart to the Cheap and Easy Baking Rack. You can skip the first 2 steps if you have used that method to bake your beads. A quick, inexpensive way to seal any size beads!
Materials
  • A rectangle of Styrofoam (about 50 cents at the floral department, or recycle, then it’s FREE!)
  • Heavy-duty hardware wire (I use 19 gauge steel wire, which I got for about 2 bucks for 30 yards.
  • Wire Cutters (I use an old pair of jewelry cutters, but you can buy them for a few dollars)
  • Kitchen foil (optional)
  • Toothpicks (optional)
  • Paper towels (optional)
Instructions
  • Place your cured beads onto a length of wire about 4 or 5 inches longer than the width of your Styrofoam rectangle. Choose a gauge that allows the bead to spin. Bend the wire ends at a 90-degree angle.
 
  • Push the end into the Styrofoam rectangle, leaving about 1 to 1.5 inches sticking out of the block so you can access the underside of your beaded wires. Apply your sealer, being sure to coat all of the beads. I use Future and a brush, but you can also drip a glaze or pour, but put a bit of kitchen foil under the wire to catch any drips to you glass can be reused.
 
  • Once your beads are fully coated, tap each wire lightly with your finger to shake off any excess sealer. If your beads slide together, use a toothpick to separate them.
 
  • If you see drops on the underside of the beads, take a sheet of paper towel and lightly touch the underside of the beads to absorb the excess. Allow sealer to dry. Reapply is desired.