Millet beads (also known as rice beads or seed beads) are small, decorative beads commonly used in crafts, jewelry, embroidery, and other crafts. The following materials are typically needed to make millet beads:
Glass or Plastic Material: Millet beads are typically made of glass or plastic. Glass rice beads are more common and offer a lustrous and durable appearance; plastic rice beads are lighter and less expensive.
Dye or Pigment: This is used to color the beads, either transparent or opaque.
Metallic Coating (Optional): Some rice beads are plated with metal (such as gold or silver) for added decorative effect.
Mold or Drawing Tool: When making glass rice beads, molds or drawing tools are needed to draw the molten glass into thin strands and then cut them into small pieces.
Cutting Tool: This is used to cut the glass or plastic strands into uniform, small pieces.
Polishing Material: After cutting, the beads may need to be polished to remove burrs and enhance their luster.
Piercing Tool: Rice beads typically require perforation for threading. This piercing tool can be a fine needle or a mechanical drill. High-temperature furnace (for glass beads only): A high-temperature furnace is required to melt the raw glass.
Auxiliary materials: Lubricants (to prevent beads from sticking) and cleaners (to remove surface impurities).
The production process involves melting the raw material, forming, cutting, perforating, polishing, and dyeing. The materials required may vary slightly depending on the material and process.
