[kansassky]

Um, some advice…don’t wave your glass rod in and out of the flame to warm it.

What you are doing is actually shocking it by doing that.
Waving causes hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold.

It’s far better to hold the rod tip far out in the flame, where you can hardly see color.
Rotate it while slowly sliding it closer to the warmer part of the flame.
This way, you are gradually heating the rod slowly.

I recommend gradually preheating Devardi rods in a kiln.