Tambrook Trade & Beads - BEAD TYPES & FINISHES

TOHO beads are produced starting from scratch. Silica ash, soda ash and charcoal are mixed and melted. The molten glass is then extruded and made into canes. The canes are made in either opaque or transparent glass. From these canes the process of creating different finishes, shapes and sizes is begun. It can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 7 weeks to produce the beads depending on the cut or finish.

BEAD TYPES | BEAD FINISHES | TOHO FEATURES | HOME

It has been our experience that TOHO produces beads
with very little dye lot changes.

NEW!!! In addition to our popular TOHO Treasures, we are proud to introduce our new line of TOHO Precision Cylinder Aiko Beads. Designed especially for bead weaving, Aiko Beads are top quality, manufactured with dedicated state of the art machinery for absolute consistency in shape and size. Weaving with them is a delight and the resulting woven piece has a remarkably smooth silky feel. Aiko Beads are available in the same beautiful colors as our TOHO Treasures

TOHO Treasures are cylinder shaped beads. They come in two sizes, the 1.8mm and the 3.3mm. The Treasures are equivalent to the Delica beads. At left are samples of 1.8mm Treasures in Transparent, Matte, Silverlined and Opaque AB finishes.

Round
The holes are made larger making it easier to insert needles or wires. We carry them in the sizes shown below. Photo at right has been enlarged to show detail.

Hex Hex beads are six sided with the edge of hole being flat and polished, not rough or rounded. Shown at right are three sizes of hex beads (photo enlarged.)

Triangle beads are 3 sided, triangular shaped beads. We carry them in the 11/0 size. TOHO's triangles have very defined edges which allow you to see the shape clearly.

Bugles are tubular shaped beads that we carry in both #1 (3mm) or #3 (9mm) sizes. Shown at right are bugle beads (enlarged.)

Opaque refers to beads that transmit no light. Opaque beads also come in matte finishes.

Transparent beads do transmit light. These beads also come in matte finishes and are often referred to as frosted.

Iridescent, Rainbow or AB is a finish that is applied while the bead is hot. This creates a rainbow effect on the surface of the bead. With some of the matte beads a raku, or fired, look is created.

Ceylon refers to transparent beads that have been lustered. These beads also look pearled.

Luster is a shiny finish on the surface of an opaque bead. The luster applied will be either a color or white. The beads have a pearled finish look.

Gold Lustered beads are transparent beads that have been lustered with a gold finish creating a subtle gold highlight to the bead.

Matte beads have a frosted surface with very rich, deep colors. Toho's matte and metallic beads are by far the most beautiful on the market.

Dyed beads are transparent beads that have been painted and baked. Strong UV light may cause fading over time.

Inside-Color beads are transparent beads that have had an opaque color applied to the inside of the bead.

Galvanized beads are plated with zinc. TOHO has developed a new finish for the galvanized beads which will provide 95% durability.

Metallic beads have been heated and then sprayed with oxidized tin. The thicker the coating, the darker the finish.

Higher Metallic beads are surface coated with gold and then sprayed with oxidized titanium. The gold provides a brighter finish to these beads.

Silver-Lined beads are transparent beads that have been lined with silver. These beads have a wonderful sparkle to them. Silverlined beads also come in a matte finish that creates a frosted look.

Bronze beads are coated with gold mixed with other materials and then baked on.

Nickel Plated are..... Nickel-plated

LARGER HOLE than other companies' beads - The large hole of TOHO beads allow for multiple stringing, cording & threading. It gives you more variety of bead works

Round Beads			Triangles
TOHO			TOHO
Other			Other

LIGHTER WEIGHT PER PIECE than other companies' beads - The larger hole makes a bead lighter. That means you can get more beads when you buy by weight. (see chart.)

Price becomes cheaper by the piece!

PIECES PER KILO (as compared with other company's)
Small Round Beads	Large Round Beads
TOHO: 111,800 pcs (approx.) Other: 110,000 pcs (approx.)	TOHO: 41,200 pcs Other: 39,000pcs