Bead (woodworking)

The rounded bead here was made with a scratch stock rather than the more common beading plane or router bit.

A bead is a woodworking decorative treatment applied to various elements of wooden furniture, boxes and other items.

A bead is typically a rounded shape cut into a square edge to soften the edge and provide some protection against splitting. Beads can be simple round shapes, or more complex patterns.

A bead may be created with an electric router, a special moulding handplane[1] or a scratch stock.[2] Beads are usually cut directly into the edge of the item to which the bead is being applied. However, beads applied across the grain are usually cut into a separate piece, which is then fixed in position.

A bead is also an important design element in wood turning, a ring-shape or convex curve incised into a piece by the use of a chisel or skew.[3]

Types of beads[edit]

  • Angle bead, a projecting wood moulding at the corner of a plastered wall[4]
  • Corner bead is similar,[4] but is usually fully embedded in plaster or drywall, and usually plastic or metal
  • Nosing bead, the rounded projection of a stair tread over the riser below[4]
  • Parting bead, or parting strip, the feature that separates two sashes in a sash window[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dunbar, Michael (Jan–Feb 1990). Wood moulding planes. American Woodworker. pp. 30–31. ISBN 1-56158-784-2. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  2. ^ "Traditional projects (New best of Fine Woodworking) Archived 2023-08-07 at the Wayback Machine", Taunton Press, 2005, page 128. ISBN 978-1561587841. Retrieved January 20, 2012
  3. ^ Blandford, Percy W., "[ The woodworker's bible: A complete guide to woodworking",2007, Popular Woodworking Books. Originally published by Tab Books, 1976. page 247. ISBN 978-1-55870-826-6. Retrieved January 20, 2012
  4. ^ a b c d Sturgis, Russell (1901). A Dictionary of Architecture and Building, Volume I. Macmillan. p. 255.