Bead (woodworking) explained

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]

Notes and References

1. Book: Dunbar, Michael. Wood moulding planes. American Woodworker. Jan–Feb 1990. 30–31. 1-56158-784-2. January 20, 2012. August 7, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230807171433/https://books.google.com/books?id=cvsDAAAAMBAJ&q=woodworking+bead&pg=PA31. live.
2. "Traditional projects (New best of Fine Woodworking) ", Taunton Press, 2005, page 128. . Retrieved January 20, 2012
3. Book: Sturgis . Russell . A Dictionary of Architecture and Building, Volume I . 1901 . Macmillan . 255.
4. Blandford, Percy W., "[[https://books.google.com/books?id=LUwmBJ6YeAMC&dq=woodworking+bead&pg=PA247 The woodworker's bible: A complete guide to woodworking]",2007, Popular Woodworking Books. Originally published by Tab Books, 1976. page 247. . Retrieved January 20, 2012

   Types of beads

   • Angle bead, a projecting wood moulding at the corner of a plastered wall^[3]
   • Corner bead is similar, 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
   • Parting bead, or parting strip, the feature that separates two sashes in a sash window

   References