Thread: How to make shorter bugle beads??

I am in the processing of "refurbishing" a costume I purchased on the board. The last piece needed are some short bugle beads. It looks like the manufacturer (Neckelmann's) took longer bugle beads and broke them into pieces to use between sequins.

I have long bugle beads that I harvested from another part of the costume - they are glass.

Any ideas how to snap them in half without ending up all jagged?

If not, any idea where I can get short little bugle bead pieces?

Thank you...

I would try scoring them with a razor blade, then snapping off what you don't need with a needle-nose pliers.

Recently I needed little bugle beads and found what I wanted on Ebay through the seller "seedbeadexplosion". I ordered "hex cut lined" because I wanted something similar to what is normally used on Egyptian costumes.

excellent - thank you.

Seems like anything you do with tools would risk scratching the color off your bugles. Not to mention drive you insane until you finished getting the number you need.

Why do they call 'em bugles, anyway? They don't flare at the end....

you know what - I have wondered the same thing LOL

kiyaana: I checked out that Ebay vendor and they had exactly what I needed for half the price! Yippee! I placed an order. Thanks so much!!

Great! I looked and looked for bright pink (which is hard to find!) and was very happy to finally find the right color and style with seedbeadexplosion. I was even happier with them when they arrived. Hope it turns out the same for you!

Originally Posted by ravenadesigns

kiyaana: I checked out that Ebay vendor and they had exactly what I needed for half the price! Yippee! I placed an order. Thanks so much!!

There is a type of bead called "two-cut" which is widely used on Egyptian costumes and looks like a very short bugle bead.

Bugle beads come in all different sizes, You may want to use a seed bead or a rocaille bead if you wanted a real short bead. See size chart below:

Size Comparison Chart for Seed and Bugle Beads