Best Fireworks Beginner's Beadmaking Kit Deals

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List Price: $130.20
Sale Price: $85.00
Today's Bonus: 35% Off

I love craft kits whenever I want to try something new because they typically provide everything you need to make a few basic projects and get a feel for that particular craft. Then, if you enjoy doing it, you can always upgrade and add any tools you want. This kit had everything I needed to make quite a few beads (except a tank of MAPP gas which I picked up at the local hardware store for under 10 dollars, and the special tinted safety goggles. These are expensive but so far I have had no problem with regular safety goggles.) Add the gas and safety goggles and you are ready to go...except for one problem, the instructions consist of a measly folded over pamphlet! That is the reason I took one star away. There weren't even any good pictorial examples. I ordered an instructional video at an additional 20 dollar expense (there are many to choose from and books as well) but once I had that I was ready to go and even though I mangled my first three beads, I was soon getting the hang of it and have made many successful beads since. With the proper instruction and this kit, making the basic bead isn't nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be and I have even begun experimenting with more advanced beads and adding dichroic glass. This hobby is a lot of fun if you have patience, enjoy a challenge and love making something unique and beautiful. This kit gives you the necessary tools but not the necessary instruction in my opinion, but compared to buying everything separately and still having to seek instruction, the price is just right!

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This kit would be fantastic for a casual adventure in flame working in other words, for someone not looking to seriously invest in the craft. I intend to seriously invest in the craft and bought the kit at the recommendation of a friend. However, you don't get much bang for the buck shabby, dirty and downright cheap tools, plus glass of questionable quality.

The torch head that came with the kit has already begun to show damage, at no fault of my own. I have only put in about ten hours of work, at the settings specified by the directions on the box. The fireproof work station is a joke; it's merely a thin layer of fire-resistant material with a cheap cardboard backing. On a positive note, the bead release seems to be alright, and almost all the instances in which I have lost a bead on the mandrel have been the result of my mistakes.

The few glass rods that came with the kit were dirty and several of them had small cracks in them at the time of arrival. Not to mention, little consideration seemed to be given to the skill level of the buyer when the rods were chosen. I received only one stick of black and white, and had several sticks of clear, plus strange hybrid colors which one would not expect to see in a beginner's pack of glass.

Diamond Tech, not the company I purchased the product from, is to be given a poor review for this product. There is something positive to be said: this product is great for a very brief, curious experiment in glass. For more serious interests, it would be wiser to buy the components individually or as a kit from another website:

A hothead torch, which like the Diamond Tech self-igniting torch can be used with MAPP gas, costs between thirty five to forty dollars new. You can also buy adapters to fit bulk propane tanks and save lots of cash.

Glass rods can be purchased from many sites for very reasonable prices, by the stick or in bulk. Howaco Glass, for instance, sells many rods at 50 cents and up.I have already used up several rods from my kit, so I'll assume there were about ten rods included five dollars at the cheapest, more for elaborate colors.

The other components are rather cheap and easy to find. The most difficult thing to find would be a cheap marver, although the marvers provided are little more than shaped hunks of aluminum. (I use the flat side, anyway.) More expensive equivalents of the items provided would last longer, as well I am already looking to replace the torch, and I have the feeling the work station will be the next to go.

This kit is not all bad! But if you're really looking to get into bead making, invest in more permanent, quality supplies.

Best Deals for Fireworks Beginner's Beadmaking Kit

I was disappointed. The gas regulator valve didn't work right. Video and instructions provided no info on how to avoid glass becoming discoloured or shifting color. No info on cleaning beads after they are made. No bead reamer. Although kit promoted as complete, both video and instructions suggested getting more books or taking classes.

Honest reviews on Fireworks Beginner's Beadmaking Kit

This is the kit I used to get my start in glass art. It is just enough to get your feet wet and decide if it's not for you or if you're hooked for life! I became an addict from the first bead.

Before you stick one rod in the flame, it's your responsibility to research safety, and there is TONS of information in the internet to soak in.

Please note, this is NOT a cheap hobby, and competition to sell your creations is fierce. If you take up glass work, be prepared to do it for love and not money.

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Never done this before? Neither had I when I received this for Christmas a year ago. It comes with some lame instructions, but the DVD explains things clearly. Yes, the safety mat is cheap, but it works. Sure, you have to buy gas, but it's available at any hardware store for cheap. Plenty of glass rods allow you to develop technique.

This kit is an entry into the hobby. You hate it after burning through half the glass? Okay, maybe it's not for you, but at least you tried. I enjoyed it enough to buy a better torch and more glass from an online supplier.

Consider this if you want to give bead making a try. Just realize it is not complete or professionally built.