My beads are made by melting a rod of glass in the flame of an oxygen & propane fueled torch.  I use a steel rod (also known as a mandrel) that has been coated with what we call bead release and wrap molten glass on the rod until I get the desired size and shape.  When the bead has been completed it is put in a kiln for annealing. The annealing process removes the stresses in the glass to make it strong and durable.