DUH!! Here goes, Ive just bought some lampie beads from e-bay and have no clue how to `clean` the insides of them, Ive been using one of those mini bottle brush things you get for doing between teeth (a new one I might add ) but it takes aaaages! Any help or advice would be great, I do apologise for being thick!!

try a dimond coated bead reamer, you can find them on ebay or lots of other websites now

I had the same problem a little while ago, but I don't have a reamer ... so I used a drill bit - not in the drill though!! I just twirled it with my fingers, until all the 'stuff' was out. I rarely need to do this, so buying a reamer isn't really cost effective for me at the moment. Hope that helps.

Do it under a running tap - either with a drill bit, a diamond reamer, or even a coarse pipe cleaner

Soak them for a bit first, the water gets into the bead release and turns it into more of a goo and less of a dust.

As Caroline has already said there are some great bead reamers on ebay and Julie has said about the pipe cleaner but if you go that route make sure you buy the ones that are meant for pipes they have 'stuff' in them that makes them that little bit coarser.

When I was really stuck,,,,,and dont laugh,,,,,,I found that the clip on the lid of a bic biro did the trick, you know the bit that loops over your shirt pocket?

Just stick it in and twist!!

Be careful when cleaning them though, a lot of the chinese ones break when you are mid clean

:Thanks: Thats great! Im off to buy a bic biro then

Did you buy SRA beads then cause they should come already cleaned? No self respecting artist would let them leave uncleaned.

Cheers
Kym

Ummm, NO!! I got a 1`bargain` off e-bay, Id never bought them before and after cleaning them with my new reamer-and having several of them snap in half, I think Ive learned a valuable lesson, I`ll only be buying from decent sources from now on, the cheapy e bay ones will be off in my daughters craft box!!

Oh Well, like you said, a bargain? LOL

A cheap lesson? You could got one that was OK....just unlucky. I don't suppose they had a return policy. SRA is usually much safer and satisfying but even that isn't a guarantee, witness Ullja's behaviour.


Cheers
Kym

The ick in the middle of a "bargain" bead can also be hidden with a bead-cap. Idle but effective.