Melt beads on your gas grill to make suncatchers, etc

[Judy in Texas 150]

My daughter saw a post on Facebook about melting pony beads and making them into suncatchers, bowls, decorations for hair ties, etc.  I saw several references to heating them on the grill instead of in the oven because melting plastic smells so bad. 

 

Here is a link to images:

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=pony+beads+melt&hl=en&rlz=1T4TSHB_enUS402US402&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=9fJqUZu7EITW9QSM-IHYDA&ved=0CFsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=587#imgrc=_

 

Here is a link that talks about the process and also mentions cooking the beads on the gas grill. 

 

http://www.artfulparent.com/2012/06/making-melted-bead-suncatchers.html

 

 

Here's a link to another site:

 

http://www.thriftyfun.com/Melted-Plastic-Pony-Bead-Crafts.html

 

 

Here is a website with lots of bead options.  They even have glow in the dark ones.

 

http://www.ponybeadstore.com/products.php?cat=88

 

Sounds like a fun project. 

[Momoffive aka Loretta 34]

I see a summer project coming up!  We have tons of these beeds.

[Judy in Texas 150]

Here is a cute idea.  I saw the bottle caps mentioned in the article in Michael's pony bead section.

 

http://www.inspire-create.com/blog/melted-pony-bead-flowers/

 

I really like the idea of swirling the plastic while it melts as described in this link.  They also look previously melted pieces and used them in a new project. 

 

http://recycledrapunzel.wordpress.com/tag/pony-beads/

 

And if you are really ambitious, this person made a replacement lamp shade.

 

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=100703.0#axzz2RJ2yuOYK

[4mickey2 41]

sounds neat... but, my grill is out of commission right now.  waiting for new parts to come.  

[ftwildernessguy 778]

If I can't eat it, it doesn't go on my grill.

[Judy in Texas 150]

sounds neat... but, my grill is out of commission right now.  waiting for new parts to come.  

 

You can melt them in the oven and that's probably what I will do; but, it really smells.   You'll have to air out the house during and after. 

 

If I can't eat it, it doesn't go on my grill.

 

If you are camping with kids/grandkids and it's been it's been raining all day long, you might reconsider. That or you leave the kids with Mom/Grandma and head to Crockett's Tavern.  :) 

[Judy in Texas 150]

My first project:

I melted the beads in old muffin pans. They weren't as easy to get out as the articles lead me to believe. I may go to the second hand store to see if they have Teflon ones. I won't use these pans again for food.

I used a macramé ring for the top, 20 pound fishing line, crimping beads instead of tieing the fishing line. I'm going to change the way I have the strings - starting short and then spiraling down isn't working. They are getting tangled.

[Momoffive aka Loretta 34]

Looks pretty though Judy.  What do you plan to do differently?  I am saving our old grill for just this project this summer with the girls.  they want to make a few and see if they can sell them to raise money for another Disney trip next summer and bring their friend.   3 trips planned in one year....I am game

[Judy in Texas 150]

I made these inside. It really smells while the beads are melting. It was a nice day so I was able to have the doors and windows open. I wouldn't try to make these inside when you can't open fhe windows. Next time I am going to put the beads inside metal cookie cutters on foil covered cookie sheets so I can peel the foil off after they cool. I also want to try making them on the grill.

I forgot to add that I used a small drill bit to drill holes for the fishing line.

Maybe the girls could do something in a school colors. Hearts would be nice, too.

[Judy in Texas 150]

If you are a visual person, visit this website: http://www.findseaglass.net/how-to-make-a-suncatcher-with-melted-beads/

 

They have a video.  I don't advocate drilling the holes while holding the cooled pieces in your hand.   I put mine on the workbench with the 1/4 of each piece hanging over the edge.

 

This website says to use non-stick pans:  http://melscrochetedcreations.blogspot.com/2012/07/melting-pony-beads.html

 

This website has some cute ideas that might be good for Loretta's girls:  http://www.the36thavenue.com/2013/03/melted-beads.html

[Judy in Texas 150]

I used the gas grill today to melt some beads.  I lined a cake pan I bought at Dollar Tree with foil and used metal cookie cutters to hold the beads - all except one that I tried free-forming (the red flower on the right side):

 

 

I made a mistake, though, in putting the edge of the cookie cutter with the reinforced edge down.  It made it difficult to get the finished piece out. 

 

Here they are melted, still in the pan. 

 

 

Here they are finished: