[artsyuno]

I find that it's easier and cleaner to put the bead on a mandrel that has dry bead release on it. It won't adhere as much, but to repair the bead surface (vs all the way down to the mandrel), you don't need it to adhere as snuggly. You don't even need the bead to slide all the way on. If you can get the mandrel far enough into the bead hole that it'll stay still while you work on it, that's all you need, because you won't be getting the bead at the mandrel hot enough to run. I agree with Robert, that it's much easier to do repairs if you heat the glass to somewhere in the boro range and give it a good soak first.