Okay ... I must be a freak ... I make boro beads on 1/16" mandrels all the time and when I'm on a roll (and paying attention) I rarely burn through a mandrel.
I'm using a GTT Bobcat and tanked oxy.
It's just like the glass ... you gotta watch the glow. When it starts glowing too bright ... get it out of flame. I work mostly above and below the flame with boro and close to the candles of the torch FWIW.
It is still HELL on the mandrels as far as making them soft but I rarely burn through.
CGBeads was selling small (I think tungsten) mandrels to use with her mini rollers. So it should work nicely. I used those a couple times.
I also bought the "special" mandrels from AuraLens and didn't find them any better than regular 308L Tig.
Report back ... would love to know how it works out and just how painfully expensive (lol ... off to google tungsten rod)
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Laura
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