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]

References

1. Dunbar, Michael "Wood moulding planes," American Woodworker, Jan-Feb 1990, pages 30-31. ISBN 1-56158-784-2/ Retrieved January 20, 2012
2. "Traditional projects (New best of Fine Woodworking)," 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