How Many Pounds Of Glass Beads

How many pounds of glass beads typically fill a 3/4 limb, soft bodied doll? First time ordering and don't want to under order.

Thank you for your time!
-Les

Hi hun, most ladies buy larger amounts to finish multiple babys.The shipping would be to high to purchase glass beads for each baby seperately.Most buy 20 to 40 lbs. at a time. Kathy

Ok, I'll look for that amount.

Thank you!
-Leslie

I use glass beads in my limbs only. I fill the limbs up to the knees and elbows and put polyfill to top it off. I say order about 8-10 lbs and it should last you a few babies. To weight the body I make bean bags and fill them with steel bbs I get from Walmart. I also make a few bean bags and fill them with plastic pellets and also put them in the body. I put polyfill in to make baby cuddly too.

This is what I get and where I get it from. It lasts me for quite a few babies so its more economical in the long run. It comes shipped in a bag that's inside a box, I take the bag out and put the entire bag into a pickle bucket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sand-Blast-Cabinet-BLASTING-MEDIA-GLASS-BEAD-3-Coarse-Large-Bead-/250965748273?pt=Sanders_Sandblasters&hash=item3a6eb96a31

With Love Nursery wrote:

I use glass beads in my limbs only. I fill the limbs up to the knees and elbows and put polyfill to top it off. I say order about 8-10 lbs and it should last you a few babies. To weight the body I make bean bags and fill them with steel bbs I get from Walmart. I also make a few bean bags and fill them with plastic pellets and also put them in the body. I put polyfill in to make baby cuddly too.

Now that's a creative idea! I'll look into the BBs and the pellets. Filling only the limbs seems like it's a lot more cost effective.

Thanks!

Karen wrote:

This is what I get and where I get it from. It lasts me for quite a few babies so its more economical in the long run. It comes shipped in a bag that's inside a box, I take the bag out and put the entire bag into a pickle bucket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sand-Blast-Cabinet-BLASTING-MEDIA-GLASS-BEAD-3-Coarse-Large-Bead-/250965748273?pt=Sanders_Sandblasters&hash=item3a6eb96a31

Thank you for the link. I love links. Been searching google for hours and grateful when someone gives good site recommendations.

Wow, a pickle bucket, now that's a lot of beads!!!!!!!!!!!

No the pickle bucket doesn't get full with these, just about half way but they do last and tend to save me money. I prefer the larger bead that won't sift through the stockings like the grit does, but I don't use stockings, either.

I to order 25lbs at a time, but for your question I think that it all depends on the weight you are aiming for. some do the limbs, I don't, I like to make the pouch's for the inside of the torso and head, for me a two pound baby is good but some like more, I jsut think to heavy makes it harder to enjoy.

Also another matter to consider is that when weighting a baby we are talking dead weight here. Dead weight is heavier than live weight so a baby born at 6 lbs would require a dead weight of only 3 to 4 lbs to be the equivalent feel in your arms. Many people make the mistake of trying to weight up to the 6lbs or so and it is almost an impossible task to get that much weight into a reborn of newborn size.

Lynknursery wrote:

Also another matter to consider is that when weighting a baby we are talking dead weight here. Dead weight is heavier than live weight so a baby born at 6 lbs would require a dead weight of only 3 to 4 lbs to be the equivalent feel in your arms. Many people make the mistake of trying to weight up to the 6lbs or so and it is almost an impossible task to get that much weight into a reborn of newborn size.

And that's what we call a door stopper!

Lynknursery wrote:

Also another matter to consider is that when weighting a baby we are talking dead weight here. Dead weight is heavier than live weight so a baby born at 6 lbs would require a dead weight of only 3 to 4 lbs to be the equivalent feel in your arms. Many people make the mistake of trying to weight up to the 6lbs or so and it is almost an impossible task to get that much weight into a reborn of newborn size.

I totally agree Lyn,

Karen Aaarg, sifting! Didn't think of that!!! Ok, next time. Couldn't afford TONS of beads so I'm not stuck too badly. I use thin socks because I never remember to buy stockings at the store. What do you use?

Rebecca Nothing in the belly or head? Huh, interesting.

Lynknursery wrote:

Also another matter to consider is that when weighting a baby we are talking dead weight here. Dead weight is heavier than live weight so a baby born at 6 lbs would require a dead weight of only 3 to 4 lbs to be the equivalent feel in your arms. Many people make the mistake of trying to weight up to the 6lbs or so and it is almost an impossible task to get that much weight into a reborn of newborn size.

Wow, formula for the dead weight. I didn't consider the real vs dead would be different. THANKS!!!!!

Thank you ladies! I am just about ready to call my Gena done weigh her and you all have been so helpful. I am ready for the beads to be shipped!
-Les

I make packets out of vinyl gloves. NOT latex!!! Vinyl doesn't break down against vinyl like latex does. I use one or two in the torso(depending on size of baby and desired weight) and one in the head in the chin area(I prefer head to flop forward, rather than backwards). Rebecca puts her glass beads in packets in her body and head but not the limbs, although she is experimenting right now, I think.

Karen wrote:

I make packets out of vinyl gloves. NOT latex!!! Vinyl doesn't break down against vinyl like latex does. I use one or two in the torso(depending on size of baby and desired weight) and one in the head in the chin area(I prefer head to flop forward, rather than backwards). Rebecca puts her glass beads in packets in her body and head but not the limbs, although she is experimenting right now, I think.

Yeah I am experimenting with the limbs and kind of liking it, I do usually sew my own small body pouch and place one inside the torso and one inside the head, I just dont like the idea of loose glass beads inside the head at all, I always use plugs but still it seems a bit risky to me, likeing the limbs however.

Nobody lets the glass in the head and body be loose, Rebecca...but then again, I guess some new ones might?

LOL! I bag the beads in the head and body. BUT, I don't plug. I am so "broke", I'd rather put the money into another kit. The body limb caps and all that stuffing I am not feeling the concern. (Am I naive?)

Thanks ladies! I knew I needed you, and hubby and i PROVED IT last night. There are practically NO reborn artists in NH. It's up to me to learn, spread the awareness and TEACH! It's lonely over here...........
-Les

Actually, I just cut circles from a thin cardboard, sort of like card stock and push them into the hole so it pops up under the flange and creates a nice seal. I don't glue them on because 1. not necessary to and 2. makes it more difficult to correct something if need be. But you can glue them to make them more secure if you choose to do so. We have reborners in RI and MA and I think even one in Maine somewhere so its not that lonely over there.

I did have card-stock glued on the top like a plug, but when the arm was squeezed (daughter wanted to feel the beads in the hands so we both squeezed) the darn thing popped off and there was a crunching sound. So when I removed the arms and legs to put back onto the body the correct way, I removed the index-stock plugs.

Well, no school, snow-day today. Daughters home so I won't be able to work. (Lately can't work unless house is calm and settled). It's ok, I don't have anymore blank dolls. I have a couple that should arrive in a day or so.... then that is it for this month's budget (unless something sells, listed on Etsy).

Thanks ladies. I am so grateful for all your help.
-Les

Karen, thank you for the link on ebay. Which size of glass bead should I order? Size 10, the fine one? Which ones do you get or suggest?

Thank you,

Cynthia

Dollswest wrote:

Karen, thank you for the link on ebay. Which size of glass bead should I order? Size 10, the fine one? Which ones do you get or suggest?

Thank you,

Cynthia

I get the size 3 as I like them a bit bigger.

Karen wrote:

Dollswest wrote:

Karen, thank you for the link on ebay. Which size of glass bead should I order? Size 10, the fine one? Which ones do you get or suggest?

Thank you,

Cynthia

I get the size 3 as I like them a bit bigger.

I checked your link for beads and I'll prob get my next batch from them Are the size 3 the same size as the "fine" sized beads on BB?

http://www.bountifulbaby.com/seaside/index/supplies?_s=sbAeeBcqxkJahQyb&_k=sxDqEmhX&s=&t=All+of+the+above+words&d=false&c=1311

I've only used them once, but I like the feel of them. I'm very glad for the names of some other places to buy from as BB is a very expensive way to buy them! I put 25 lbs of beads from BB in my cart to see what it would cost and it was $111.85 ($49.60 of that for shipping!!). Needless to say, I won't actually be buying those beads.

Lynknursery wrote:

Also another matter to consider is that when weighting a baby we are talking dead weight here. Dead weight is heavier than live weight so a baby born at 6 lbs would require a dead weight of only 3 to 4 lbs to be the equivalent feel in your arms. Many people make the mistake of trying to weight up to the 6lbs or so and it is almost an impossible task to get that much weight into a reborn of newborn size.

Thanks for the info Lyn! I was planning on making my baby about 6 lbs, but I'll make him lighter now.

No, I don't think BB uses a very nice size at all. I mean, they are okay, but just not what I like.

Karen wrote:

No, I don't think BB uses a very nice size at all. I mean, they are okay, but just not what I like.

Karen I ordered the same type glass beads from the Tacoma company as you but I had a question about them. Are they non-toxic? I know I read on their store on eBay that they are. Do you wear a mask when working with these beads? I had originally bought 80 grit glass beads from Harbor Freight (on a recommendation from another reborn artist) but then I got the box home and there was a warning on how it could be toxic if you inhale the beads therefore to use some type of special mask .........well that FREAKED me out and I returned those. Number one I have asthma and I didn't want to risk working with these type of beads and number two ....why would I want to put those type of beads in one of my dolls. Any ways that is why this question ........ I don't see any warning labels on the Tacoma Company beads so I am assuming they are as safe as they say.

Michelle, they are an actual bead and not a grit like the stuff Harbor Freight sells. I have no dusting at all when I use them, and that's another reason I like the larger ones. They are as non-toxic as regular glass.

Karen wrote:

Michelle, they are an actual bead and not a grit like the stuff Harbor Freight sells. I have no dusting at all when I use them, and that's another reason I like the larger ones. They are as non-toxic as regular glass.

Karen , awesome!!! Now I don't have to be afraid of using them