counterbalance on mandrels
 

Hello all-

I have recently seen ads for a lampworking class. The photo shows the instructor using mandrels that look like they have beads on the outside end-
maybe like a counterbalance? Does anyone use mandrels like this? Does it help make the bead more even and symmetrical? Sometimes I think I need all the help I can get... Thanks!

Are they being used as color identification so she knows which student's beads are which in the kiln?

Heather Trimlett's beautiful lampworking tools have a counterbalance bead.

Maybe that's what you saw?

Maybe that's it... I'm still trying to find the photo but apparently it is lost in the depths of the interwebs...

Haha! The photo finally popped back up. On Instagram, Terminal city glass. What is on the end of her mandrel? ID for student work or...?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbkEv_OF...minalcityglass

All it's for is identification of who made the bead.

OK, thanks. I'd never seen it before and wondered if I had missed a trick somewhere. The only class I ever took we used fiber blankets and didn't anneal the class beads. Guess I should get out more.

All that matters is that it makes sense for you. All of the punties I have for furnace work are counterweighted punties. It helps greatly to balance out the weight.