Mandrel

A mandrel is a length of stainless steel rod used to make beads. After being dipped in bead release the molten glass is wound around the mandrel to form the bead. Because of this technique Mandrels are also the way you get the hole in the bead, as the act of wrapping the glass around the mandrel makes a bead complete with ready made hole.

Mandrels can also be hollow to allow blowing techniques to be used.

How to make your own mandrels

Mandrels can be made by cutting non-coated 316L stainless steel welding rods to the desired length. The cut ends will need to be filed or ground down, using a grinding wheel, to remove any burrs or the beads will be difficult or impossible to remove.

They are also available in many different sizes from 1.6mm diameter up to 5mm used for big hole beads such as the silver core beads.