3/8" Round Bead, 5/32" Hole

Maple Wood Bead — 3/8" (10mm) Round Sphere with 5/32" (4mm) Hole for Crafting and Jewelry

The 3/8" (10mm) maple wood bead is a smooth, unfinished sphere crafted from durable hard maple hardwood. Designed with a centered 5/32" (4mm) drilled hole, it provides consistent size, reliable stringing, and compatibility with cords, wires, and elastic. Its clean surface and strength make it an ideal choice for jewelry, decorative accents, classroom projects, and custom woodworking applications where uniformity and natural warmth are essential.

Key Features

• Tumble-sanded surface for a smooth, ready-to-finish texture
• Consistent 3/8" (10mm) diameter with ±0.01" tolerance for uniform appearance
• 5/32" (4mm) centered drilled hole allows secure threading with cord, wire, or elastic
• Hard maple hardwood (~1450 Janka) provides durability with workable grain
• Kiln-dried to minimize cracking or warping during use
• Excellent compatibility with paint, stain, glues, and finishing sealers
• Lightweight design suitable for jewelry and bulk-scale craft projects
• Batch-sorted for consistent sizing and professional-quality results

Specifications

• Diameter: 3/8" (0.375") / 10.00 mm
• Hole Size: 5/32" (0.156") / 4.00 mm
• Shape: Perfect sphere (1:1 aspect ratio)
• Material: Hard maple hardwood, furniture grade
• Finish: Tumble-sanded, smooth, unfinished
• Weight (each): ~0.013 oz (0.36 g)
• Tolerances: ±0.01" (±0.25 mm)
• Grain: Closed, fine-grain pattern with light cream to tan coloration
• Moisture Content: Kiln-dried for stability
• Hole Orientation: Center-drilled, cleanly deburred
• Volume: Approx. 0.03 in³
• Strength: Decorative or light-load applications only
• Compatibility: Fits cords, leather strips, elastic, wire, and twine up to 4mm
• Pack Sizes: 100 / 1,000 / bulk quantities
• Storage: Keep in dry, climate-controlled environment

Suggested Uses

If you think a bead this small couldn’t carry its weight, the 3/8" maple sphere will prove otherwise. Jewelry makers rely on them for balanced necklaces, bracelets, and macramé pieces that don’t weigh down the wearer. In classrooms, teachers turn them into counting manipulatives, abacus beads, or STEM building elements that make learning just tangible enough to keep kids interested. For the miniature builders among us, these beads double as dollhouse finials, toy wheels, or perfectly scaled model components where a polished wooden sphere completes the illusion. Around the holidays, a handful of them painted and strung together quickly become rustic tree garlands, handcrafted ornaments, or even board-game pawns in DIY family projects. They’re also popular as subtle furniture accents—think trim details for cabinets, drawer pulls for doll furniture, or handcrafted knobs. For an offbeat project, try painting them into tiny planets for a solar system mobile—a creative nod to both their spherical shape and smooth maple surface. No matter how they’re used, their uniformity and durability make them the dependable sidekick every craft bench needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will a 4mm cord fit through the hole?
  Yes, the centered hole is 5/32" (4mm) in diameter and is sized to accommodate cords, leather strips, and wires up to that thickness.
• Are these beads already sanded smooth?
  They are tumble-sanded for a smooth finish and arrive ready to be painted, stained, or sealed.
• Can I use them for dollhouse or miniature projects?
  Yes, the 3/8" (10mm) size makes them an excellent fit for small-scale furniture accents, knobs, or decorative detailing in dollhouses and models.
• Do the beads come kiln-dried?
  Yes, they are kiln-dried to achieve stable moisture content, which reduces warping and cracking.
• What’s the weight of each bead?
  Each bead weighs approximately 0.013 oz (0.36 g), making them light enough for jewelry and high-volume craft designs.
• What types of finishes are suitable?
  The unfinished maple surface accepts acrylic paint, wood stains, pyrography, oils, waxes, or polyurethane sealants.
• Can I order them in bulk?
  Yes, they are available in packs of 100, 1,000, or bulk quantities tailored for classrooms, workshops, and commercial projects.
• Are the holes centered consistently?
  Yes, each bead is drilled with a centered 5/32" (4mm) hole, cleanly deburred for easy stringing.
• Are these beads weather-resistant?
  As unfinished hardwood, they are best suited for indoor use. If outdoor use is desired, sealing is strongly recommended.
• How accurate are the dimensions?
  Beads are size-sorted to a ±0.01" tolerance, ensuring consistent dimensions within each batch.

The 3/8" maple sphere bead strikes the right balance between strength, simplicity, and adaptability. Its smooth grain, precise hole sizing, and stable kiln-dried maple make it a reliable choice for jewelry, woodcraft, and decorative projects that demand consistency and natural appeal.