How to make a bead sorter

If like me you’ve been lazy after a beading session or you’ve simply collected lots of junk beads in a box. There will come a time when you will want to sort them. Now picking through them individually is VERY time consuming. So Inspired by Lego sorting trays I’d seen I decided to make my own bead sorter. Which would at least sort the seed beads from the rest. Making the job a little easier to tackle. Here’s how to make a bead sorter and I’ve included free templates for you to make your own.

You will need:

• A box or tray with high sides
• Thick cardboard or plywood
• Thin cardboard
• A hole punch or cutting machine
• Beads that need sorting

To make the bead sorter:

1. Measure the inside dimensions of your box or tray as this determines the size to need to cut the frame and the sorting lid
2. If you’re using a cutting machine or laser cutter, download the svg templates and upload to your machines design space to cut.
3. If you’re cutting it by hand you don’t need to use the templates.
4. Cut a frame out of thick cardboard or ply that will fit around the boarder of your box or tray. It doesn’t need to be wide it’s just to create a space underneath the sorting lid for the seed beads to fall.
5. From the thin cardboard hole punch 3mm (or the size of the small bead you want to sort) holes to create a perforated lid.

Assemble your sorter

• Place the box or tray on your table.
• Insert the frame

• Add the sorting lid.

• Pour your beads on the top
• Shake to move the beads.

• The small beads should drop through the holes, leaving the larger beads on top.
• Lift the lid, taking care to not tip the larger beads back into the box.

• Then you should have all your seed beads ready to go into containers.

Download the svg templates here