Which Is Better For Your Crafts?
Whether you enjoy jewelry making, string art projects or beading in general, choosing the right type of beads is important. These beads are two of the most commonly used options, but they have distinct properties that make one better suited for certain projects over the other. Let's take a closer look at the differences between Clay Beads vs Seed Beads.
Polymer Clay Beads vs Seed Beads
At their core, clay beads and seed beads differ in their base material - clay beads use polymer clay as the primary material while seed beads are made of glass or plastic.
Polymer clay, usually referred to as "sculpey", has a putty-like texture that is soft and moldable when freshly kneaded. This allows it to be precisely shaped and molded by hand or with basic bead making tools. It hardens permanently when baked in the oven. Its pliable nature makes it well-suited for freeform sculpting of unique clay bead designs.
On the other hand, seed beads are pre-formed small spherical beads made of glass or plastic with a uniform size and shape. They come in an extensive range of colors and transparency levels but don't offer the creative shaping flexibility of polymer clay beads.
Clay Beads and Seed Beads for Bracelets
For stringing bead bracelets, seed beads are generally the preferred choice. Their consistent size and shape stacks up nicely on string or wire. The glass seed beads have a smooth glossy surface that slides against each other easily during stringing.
In comparison, polymer clay beads require more care while stringing as their textured hand-crafted surfaces can snag the thread or wire. The irregular sizes and shapes also don't lay as neatly side-by-side on the stringing material. So seed beads provide a cleaner, more professional look for simple beaded bracelets.
That said, clay beads truly shine for bracelets where the charm lies in their unique sculpted designs. Stacked clay bead charms, layered clay petal designs or molded clay patterned spacers add visual interest that uniform seed beads cannot provide. So for statement beaded bracelets with a crafted appeal, clay beads take the edge.
Electric Clay Bead Spinner
A handy tool maker for sculpting intricate designs in clay beads is an electric clay bead spinner. Models like the Thumb Clay Bead Spinner offer a portable, affordable and safe option to precisely shape polymer clay beads using centrifugal force.
By loading wet clay onto the spinning disk and shaping it with needle tools as it rotates, intricate patterns like swirls, spirals and medallions can be achieved. The even rapid spinning evens out any inconsistencies smoothly. It's an excellent way to use a bead spinner for both beginners and advanced clay artists looking to mass produce identical beads quickly.
Clay Beads vs Seed Beads spinner is especially useful when trying to replicate complex designs across many beads for fulfilling large orders or restocking inventory. The consistent patterns allow branding your unique creations. However, you cannot achieve complete freeform sculpting flexibility as with hand-shaping.
Choosing The Right Option
Seed beads are best for clean uniform stringing applications like basic beaded bracelets due to their consistent size and shape. Clay beads on the other hand allow fully creative expression in unique sculpted designs best suited for statement crafted jewelry pieces.
An electric clay bead spinner makes replicating complex patterns across many clay beads faster and easier, while hand-shaping retains complete versatility. So considering your intended projects and stylistic needs, polymer Clay Beads vs Seed Beads can each have their place - it depends on whether uniformity or creativity take priority for the job. With the right application of these wonderful beading mediums, endless creative possibilities await!