Drilling Holes in Seeds 4 Beads

[TheSeedObsesser]

How would you go about drilling holes in seeds for use as beads? In particular tiny ones, like cowpeas. I've tried using a tiny needle but each and every time the seed just splits in half. I've manged to turn some Lettered Olive shells that I found in Florida a decade ago into beads, but not seeds.

I could also use ideas for clamps.

Trying to make a ridiculously late Valentines gift. I was snowed in that day so couldn't go anywhere, just recently thought about making a necklace.

 

[thistlebloom]

That sounds like a really hard thing to do SeedO.

They make drill bits for Dremels if you have one of those, or maybe a super sharp, really fine bit for a regular drill. ???

I would try taping your seed down to a surface to try to hold it for drilling, I can't think of another way to hold it that would work for something tiny.

I hope somebody can give you some ideas that work.

Let us know what you come up with, and a picture would be great too!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Here are the shells. What I did was sand the tips down with a smooth pebble and some sand from the creek, and then I stuck a needle the the hole to widen it. I also used the needle to clean the debris from the shell. (Turns out that the creature that used to be attached to the shell was mummified inside of it, it looked like half of a very hard and dry date.)

Here is the shell with a necklace next to it. The beads on the necklace were handmade from coconut shell from the Philippines. It already has a clamp but I'll need to cut it off to add the seeds. (I lack more good string).

While I'm at it I wanted to show off my first non-seed import, to the left. It's from Bolivia, a type of flute called a Quena, made from Snakewood.

 

[thistlebloom]

Oh, you meant a clasp to connect the two ends of the necklace?
I thought you wanted a way to hold the seed still while you drilled it.
Ha!


Are you adding the two shells to the coconut shell necklace?

Pretty flute!

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

Something to hold the seeds down would still be helpful, lol.

I'm planning on taking most of the coconut off, add some cowpeas with some of the coconut beads in-between, and then maybe some other shells that I have. Along with the two (plus 1 more) shells. I also think that I have a shard of abalone somewhere around here...

I'm still thinking about it.

The picture doesn't really do the flute justice.

 

[digitS']

Good ideas, SeedO'!

I don't have any ... ideas that is. I did post a link to that interesting website I came across last fall: Beads.

Just went back and looked. All sorts of botanical beads but there doesn't seem to be any discussion on drilling them.

Somehow, I think it would be a good topic for our crafters like @Lavender2 . Or, the bean collectors - @flowerweaver responded on that thread about choices but I imagine she would have some ideas on crafting. Or, @aftermidnight ... what does she do with that overwhelming collection?!

What I know is that if I use a drill bit much smaller than 1/4", I'm guaranteed to break it!

Steve

 

[PhilaGardener]

Takes a bit more planning ahead , but I'd try drilling some as they are drying down in the Fall before they get really hard.

 

[Lavender2]

That was my first thought also, @PhilaGardener , or steaming them soft enough to pierce.
I think it will take a drill instead of piercing to keep from shattering, but I've not tried either.

I don't do much with beading, but I found some neat ideas in a blog. Looks like fun!

The Etsy Blog - Natural Bean Jewelry

Dremels are not real expensive if you don't have one @TheSeedObsesser, and drill sets are under $10. I know that doesn't help much for your already late gift.

 

[so lucky]

You could use fishing line for the cord, as long as you have a good way to tie/fasten it. Also, you might try holding the seed with a pair of pliers, so you don't accidentally drill your finger.

 

[flowerweaver]

Not only am I a bean collector, but a silversmith, too!

Seed-O, the easiest way to attach the shells to the necklace would be by forming a bail from some wire. Using a bail you wouldn't need to cut the string apart. The bail would run through the shells with a loop on the end that would go around the string; one would look nice hanging down from the center as a focal point. Google necklace bail and you will see many solutions.

If you want to use both horizontally on the string you might want a third object to dangle down from the center of them for balance. You could still run a wire with loops at both ends through the shells, then tie the string to the loops. To drill them out I would put them in a small jeweler's vise and drill them with a dremel/flexshaft tool with a small drill bit. You probably don't have these tools, though.

There is an inexpensive hand tool called a pearl drill or reamer that is basically a handle with a little drill bit on the end. They probably have these at your local bead/hobby/harbor freight store, and certainly online. Drilling a pearl is probably not that different than drilling a bean, as they are a bit powdery inside. It would probably work for the shells, too. If the beans keep splitting, you might coat them a couple times with some sort of acryllic sealer to keep them from coming apart.

You would need to secure the shell/bean in some sort of padded vise though, as it would be difficult to hold it in padded pliers or a hand vise with one hand and drill with the other. You might be able to drill a hole in a piece of wood that you could wedge the shell/bean into that would secure it while using a hand drill. Also it helps to coat the drill bit with beeswax or a little bar soap like Ivory as a lubricant.

Hope this helps!