Our most frequently asked question is always what beads fit what beadable product types. We do have a list of what beads fit the various beadable items in every product description. But we thought it might be helpful to put together a video and blog post that has all of that information for ALL beadable types in ONE place. So here you have it!
We are not responsible for beads not fitting a specific rod! Our customers use beads for a wide variety of projects and just like with any craft, not all items are suitable for all projects. These recommendations are a general guideline and there can always be exceptions/manufacturing changes.
Many crafters like to use a Dremel or similar handheld drill to make holes on beads larger, expanding what they can fit on a rod.
Here's a video walk through of each beadable product, a visual look at the differences and verbal break down of what fits them...
Here is a summary of what beads fit which beadable product. This list is in order from what fits the least to what fits the most. As we go down the list all beads mentioned in the above beadable will continue to fit all other beadable items as the list goes down. We will simply be adding ADDITIONAL beads that fit a the rods get smaller in circumference.
Beadable Beer Bottle Opener: This is the thickest rod and will fit the fewest beads.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- Large Wooden Beads - 18mm and 16mm Hexagon
- Spacer Beads that have "Large Hole" or "Jumbo" in the title
Beadable Wine Bottle Bottle Opener: This rod is only slightly smaller than the Beer Bottle Opener. You may find some surprises in the 20mm Acrylic category, but it's safest to stick with the following.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- Large Wooden Beads - 18mm and 16mm Hexagon
- Spacer Beads that have "Large Hole" or "Jumbo" in the title
Beadable Wine Stopper: This rod is only slightly smaller than the Wine Bottle Opener. You may find some surprises in the 20mm Acrylic category (slightly more than the Wine Bottle Openers) but it's safest to stick with the following.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- Large Wooden Beads - 18mm and 16mm Hexagon
- Spacer Beads that have "Large Hole" or "Jumbo" in the title
- 20mm Matte Beads have the least rigid material. For this reason, you can often get the rod to "screw" onto the bar (not glide on) as it almost drills the bead as it goes on. Many 20mm Printed Beads are printed on a Matte finish, but not all.
Beadable Rods: Now we are getting significantly smaller in rod size and can start introducing larger Acrylic Beads to the Mix.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Wooden Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Spacer Beads we carry bigger than 4mm (Standard Size Crystal Rondelle Spacers can potentially be an issue - they are inconsistent in hole size and some will work, some won't within a package)
- ALL 20mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- ALL 16mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- 8mm Square Beads (these are are abnormally large hole for the bead size and an outlier that works for these rods!)
Economy Beadable Keychain: The rod portion of these are the same as the individual rods.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Wooden Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Spacer Beads we carry bigger than 4mm (Standard Size Crystal Rondelle Spacers can potentially be an issue - they are inconsistent in hole size and some will work, some won't within a package)
- ALL 20mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- ALL 16mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- 8mm Square Beads (these are are abnormally large hole for the bead size and an outlier that works for these rods!)
Beadable Pens: We are going down in rod size again now, and can start introducing some (but not all) 12mm Acrylic Beads and some additional 8mm styles.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Wooden Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Spacer Beads we carry bigger than 4mm
- ALL 20mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- ALL 16mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- Select 12mm Acrylic Beads
Polka Dot
Jelly Marble
Marble w/White
Crackle
Translucent Pumpkin w/White Core
Standard Glitter (NOT Glitter in Clear)
Cosmic Glitter
UV Shine
Pearly Luster
Galaxy
Beach Ball
Stripe
Matte
Stardust
Tinsel
Cube
Translucent Multifaceted
Wrinkle
Facet
Illusion
Resin Confetti
Pearls **with Reaming (they need the finish cleared out of the holes) - Select 8mm Acrylic Beads
Translucent Iridescent
Frosted
Translucent Pumpkin w/White Core
Square
Matte (they are inconsistent and you may get some in the package that will not fit)
Premium Quality Beadable Keychains: These are the smallest rods! The diameter of the rod itself is the same as the pens, however the SCREW that the bead first has to go over is smaller. THIS is the component that prevents all 12mm beads from fitting the pens (and why you can use a drill to shave off just enough from the diameter to make them larger). With the smaller screw on these keychains, it opens up the door for the majority of 12mm acrylic beads to fit.
- ALL Silicone Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Wooden Beads - Any Size, Any Style
- ALL Spacer Beads we carry bigger than 4mm (Standard Size Crystal Rondelle Spacers can potentially be an issue - they are inconsistent in hole size and some will work, some won't within a package)
- ALL 20mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- ALL 16mm Acrylic Beads that we carry (you may occasionally get an outlier that needs a bead reamer to clear out the hole, make it slightly bigger in a spot, etc.)
- You should be able to get all 12mm Acrylic Beads on these. Any listed above for the pens are more than safe. You should also be OK with Iridescent, Rhinestone and other styles that wouldn't fit on the pen rods. Just keep in mind that it is a close fit and there could be slight variations in manufacturing that give resistance. For the most part, we have found that if a 12mm Acrylic Bead doesn't fit a Premium Quality Keychain with ease, it can be SCREWED on with a twisting motion.
-
Select 8mm Acrylic Beads
Translucent Iridescent
Frosted
Translucent Pumpkin w/White Core
Square
Matte (they are inconsistent and you may get some in the package that will not fit)
*****
Note Worthy:
12mm Solid hole sizes vary, even with the same color - one batch can be big enough and a month later not, so they’re a gamble. If you won’t be using your beads for other items besides pens or keychains, solids are not advised to be purchased. If you use the beads on other items as well, you may find some to work for you on these projects.
12mm Iridescent Solid Beads are a coating over the standard Solid Beads, so the above details also applies to them.
12mm Rhinestone holes are like solid holes with variations from batch to batch. Like the solid beads, if you won’t be using your beads for other items besides pens or keychains, rhinestones are not advised to be purchased. If you use the beads on other items as well, you may find some to work for you on these projects.
