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I am now stocking three sizes of Stainless Steel hollow mandrels
for blowing vessels and ornaments. This is 304 seamless hardened steel. The
mandrels are 12" long, and the ends are ground/beveled
for a nice finish. These are the same mandrels I use. For information on using these mandrels, please view this Word Document.
NOTE: OUR MANDRELS MOVE QUICKLY!
We do our best to keep them in stock, but we do, on occasion, run out.
Check the links below to see if we have what you need.
Click on link to purchase
The links will take you to my Etsy shop
I accept PayPal, and also accept Visa, MasterCard,
Discover and American Express.
If you have other questions or payment needs, please
contact me before ordering at
tink@blackswampglassworks.com
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Instructions
for using side hole drilled mandrels
THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR THOSE WHO
PURCHASED SIDE HOLE DRILLED MANDRELS FROM ME DURING MY SPECIAL OFFER. THESE
ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE THROUGH ME!
To use the side hole aspect of the mandrels:
Dip the mandrel in release, hold your finger over the end of the mandrel
and blow through it to clear the bead release from the tiny side hole. Then
just touch the open end of the mandrel to the bead release again to seal it
up. Once dry, build your hollow bead in the same way you usually do, making
sure your little side hole is in between the two walls of the hollow bead.
Get the glass melted and smooth, then come out of the flame and blow.
Two important things: You must keep the mandrel rotating and
you must keep the mandrel on the horizontal the whole time you’re
working with it. These two things will help keep your blown hollow beads
even and balanced with nice ends. It takes practice!
Using bead release to seal the end makes the mandrels more versatile than
if the end is permanently plugged. The first couple John made me all those
years ago had one end of the tubing permanently blocked. That pretty much
eliminated the option of using those tubes for blowing ornaments, vessels
or anything else.
To use your mandrels for blowing vessels, use the end of the
mandrel without the side hole. First wrap a small piece of masking tape
over the side hole. Then dip the OTHER end into your bead release and blow
through the tubing to clear the end. Let dry, and use as you would normally
(to make vessels or beads).
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