Cone Mandrel - Directions

Think Safety:

Be proactive about safety. Take classes, do research, and talk with experts. Actively work to identify, and then reduce or eliminate hazards. You are responsible for your own safety and long term health.
Always use the correct filtered glasses to protect your eyes.
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear.
Always work with proper ventilation. Talk with an expert about your situation.
Set up and operate your torch system safely. Take a class or get an expert to show you.
Keep your workspace clean and organized. Set up your tools and glass so you don't need to reach over or around the torch.
Be careful with water. Putting hot tools or glass in water can generate steam. Long tubes can create jets of steam.
Watch out for repetitive strain injury (RSI). Take breaks, watch your posture, and cushion your elbow rests.
Always remove and clean your beads while wet to minimize bead release dust in the air.

Preparation:

Inspect the mandrel and wiggle the cone to check the connection. In the unlikely event of a lose connection, do not use the mandrel and contact Inspiration Toolworks for a replacement.
Dip in your favorite bead release and dry.
Flame dry or air dry. You may have better luck with air drying.

Cone Construction:

Apply the glass to the cone as you would a mandrel. You will have to experiment to see what works best for you. You may want to lay down a strip of glass at the base and the tip, and then fill in between them.
You don't have to touch the rod with the glass. You could lay the glass around the side of the cone and leave a larger hole.
Be careful not to go over the edge away from the cone end. You may not be able to remove the cone if you go over the edge.
When finished, place the whole thing in the kiln for annealing.

Bead Removal:

Remove bead cone normally.
You can rotate the mandrel in the cone to help get the bead release off. You should expect to have to do some manual cleaning.
You can use clear nail polish to make the inside shiny.