These beads are hand
fabricated from copper pipe and scraps of roofing copper. When possible, I
used recycled materials to make them. I cut sections of pipe in varying
sizes, then hand draw patterns on them with a marker which acts as a
resist. I then etch the surface of the beads using ferric chloride. Once
the etching is complete, I solder on the ends of the beads. The color on
the beads comes from the heat of my torch. After I have soldered both ends,
I simply tumble the beads for a few minutes to remove loose fire scale and
traces of flux. Finally, I spray the beads with lacquer to preserve the
finish.
