[Speedslug]

You also might want to just kind of play with two glass rods in the flame to get used to how it melts and when it flows.

I began with a clear rod and one of the lighter colored rods and used the clear to attach and pull the other once it started flowing.

Transparent glass is going to be stiffer than opaque.

The hot head torch has kind of reverse heat thing going on.
Because the fuel has to mix with the air it sucks in from the other end it takes a small amount of time once the fuel exits the torch body to mix well so the flame is actually cooler the closer you get to the torch.

So you have to fight the urge to bring the glass in closer to the torch.
Everything needs to happen just outside the tip of the blue cone which is hard to see if you have your didymium glasses on.

Welcome to the addiction.