Stones and stone setting

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

NavaehJewelry — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:41:00 GMT

This is a good idea, I never thought of drilling holes in beach stones to use for the beads,

www.navaehjewelry.com

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

MaryB61 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 01:30:06 GMT

I just drilled holes in tumbled glass today and an the first piece broke, I decided I'd better learn how to do it correctly!

You need to drill the piece underwater to keep the glass from shattering. I was able to drill near the edge of the glass without breaking it. I also used a diamond tipped drill bit with a small Craftsman hand held drill from Sears. I'm sure the small Dremel tool would work too.

I used a plastic food container, a small block of wood and a small styrofoam square (the kind they pack electronic equipment in). I filled the container with water deep enough to cover the wood, the styrofoam and to just cover the glass. The drill bit should be in the water, but just deep enough to cover the top of the bit.

It can take up to 2 minutes to drill through the glass depending on how thick it is. Let the drill do the work and don't press down. I used the speed setting between 2 & 3.

Hope this helps

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

Social Zach — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:48:39 GMT

That tutorial is great. I loved it. I have many moonstones I want to use in making jewelry and this tutorial has helped me. Thank you.

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

seaglasslady — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:01:36 GMT

Hi,

I know its been a while since the replies on here, but I just wanted to say that many people frown on collecting stones (pebbles) from beaches, as it damages the eco-status of the shoreline and is illegal not only in many states in the USA but is completely illegal in the United Kingdom, punishable by a hefty fine.

As coastal errosion is a problem all over the world, it will only get worse if people continue to pick up pebbles as they help to protect against the ravages of the tide. So many people say "it can't hurt just to take 1" but if everybody did it there would be nothing left. Teach your children NOT to take things from the beach, please.

I know of artists who make things from driftwood etc.. but they ask permission from the authorities first.

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

Russ Nobbs — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:19:54 GMT

<bump>

Good ideas about the diamond ball burr in the last post here.

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

shawnmcintosh — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 03:51:54 GMT

When drilling beach stones, I would suggest you avoid the advice about buying the best drill bit you can find. When drilling stone, diamond bits wear out quickly, whether you buy the twisted ones (expensive) or the straight ones (far less expensive.) So go for the straight ones.

I'd suggest you go for the economy diamond cylinder drill packs from Rio. They come 25 in a pack and cost less than a buck each, compared to $2 or $4 each for twist bits. You can get through five or six stones with a single bit if the stones are not too hard.

Start your hole with a diamond ball burr, say 1 mm Hold the stone underwater with your hands in a small plastic bin, like tupperware or glad disposable.Make a small, round divot in the stone.

Once you have a achieved a small divot, drill through the stone in with your cylinder diamond drill bit. Unless your stone is very small, avoid any bit under 1 mm. The .75 mm bits have a tiny shaft and break often. The 1 mm bits have a reasonably strong shaft.

To make sure you don't drill through the bottom of your container, put a couple of popsickle sticks under your stone. Hold the stone under water, on top of the pop sticks. Use clear water so you can see what you are doing. The top of the stone should be just barely under water. As you drill, a long tail of dust will drift off from your stone in the water. Press a little, pull back a little , get a rhythm going. When you get 4/5ths of the way through, turn the stone over to see where the hole is going to come out. Mark it with a sharpie, knick that place with a ball bur and start drilling from the back. When the hole meets the other side, everything else becomes easy.

Widen the hole with successively larger (cheap) diamond drill bits, drilling under water. I find a 2.5 mm hole holds a nice rivet and makes a nice pendant.

cheers,

Shawn

(who has made 8 jeckyll island rock pendants today for our company's united way auction and has cramped hands.)

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

fuser — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:22:24 GMT

Thanks to Jim, Russ, and Mary for your help and input...Sounds like patience is the ultimate virtue for this project. It makes me realize why I love making jewelry so much in the first place...I'm able to slow down and enjoy the process while the rest of the world falls away and it's just me and my project. I'm a medical technologist by day, and it's rush rush rush all day long. I feel bad for people who haven't found an outlet to turn to like this.

Wow, must be the heat...I don't usually get so philosophical on a Saturday! Anyway, Mary, I'm going to Contenti.com to check out the diamond bits. By the way...you're not too far from Harwichport, where my parents bought a summer home back in 1968 (when they were relatively reasonable). Next time I drive out, I'll leave early enough to take the exit off Rte. 6 and visit your shop.

Betsy

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

homegirl — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:59:17 GMT

I am drilling Sandwich Glass, not beach glass or beach stones. But the technique may be the same. Get a really good quality diamond drill bit - I get mine from Contenti.com - don't get the cheap ones. Also, keep the piece immersed under water. Go slow, as I have learned from John at Monsterslayer. Tap, tap, tap, cool the bit, repeat. A drill press is the way to go, believe me - your hand will get tired. You can probably get a press for your flexshaft? I use a Dremel with a press, and it works superbly.

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

Russ Nobbs — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:32:21 GMT

Back in the old forum there was an excellent thread about drilling sea glass, drilling beach glass, drilling stones, drilling glass, and drilling rocks that will answer most ( if not all) of your questions. It's archived at http://cs.beadandbutton.com/beadingforumarchive/forums/p/24096/238794.aspx#238794

Several people added their comments and ideas. It will add to the information in the AJ tutorial.

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

theherrs — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:56:36 GMT

That stone in the picture is mostly under water. I have a feeling he raised it up a little to give you a better picture (that water is pretty cloudy too). You want the stone to be covered with water as you drill. Your diamond bit can go into the water without any issues, but you don't want to get your handpiece in the water. The better the flow of water around your bit and hole, the easier the drilling will be. If you go too fast or get your bit too hot, the diamond will come off the drill bit (the bit will be ruined) and you won't get anywhere. You will get a feel for it as you go.

I don't think your flexshaft is at much of a risk unless you are running it top speed and pressing hard on that rock( that puts a lot of strain on the motor), or if you are putting your handpiece in the water. Both of those are pretty easy to avoid doing.

--
Jim

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

fuser — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:16:22 GMT

Hi Jim...Me again,

In the photo on the tutorial, he looked like he was keeping the stone just above the water. I take this to mean that you dip the stone into the water whenever you're done drilling bit by bit. Or do you keep the stone immersed? I'm a little nervous about this as I don't want to ruin my new flexshaft-I just got it.

Thanks!

Betsy

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

theherrs — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 05:42:48 GMT

You don't mention what kind of bit you were using, but if it was a diamond bit, you should be able to gently increase the size of a hole in stone bead. I think the water is important not only to keep the bit from overheating, but to keep the bead from overheating and shattering. Since the diamond bits work by grinding, which is a slow process, you'll need to move slow. Pull out every few seconds, and go back in, letting the water flush away the ground up stone and cool the bit.

--
Jim

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

R&G Gal — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:51:27 GMT

Great tutorial - thanks! Can I use the same diamond drill bit technique when trying to enlarge holes on fine beads such as carnelian and amethyst. I often find that they aren't large enough to accommodate whatever I'm stringing them on. I tried to use a bit on a delicate bead the other day and I blew it apart into a bunch of pieces. It wasn't under water though.

Diane

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

fuser — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 17:13:12 GMT

Jim...

The tutorial helps IMMENSLY!! I can't wait to try it...I recently ordered a foredom flexshaft from Rio, and it's coming in Tuesday. I'll have everything I need for the project! (I'm not too excited, am I ?1?)

Thanks loads!

Betsy

Re: drilling holes in beach stones to use for beads

theherrs — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 06:34:28 GMT

Hopefully, this tutorial will help some.

--
Jim