I was hesitant to try with the stainless steel hollow mandrels as each costs just under £7 but did cut a slit with some brass tubing and it worked quite well but the brass tends to heat up a little too much. At the Flame Off on Saturday, I bought two more hollow mandrels and first cut a small indentation with a jewellers saw, then another across it to give the drill bit something to bite on. Drilled slowly to allow the drill and drill bit to cool between each drilling session and eventually got through the tubing. I covered the mandrel with bead release yesterday and will attempt a blown hollow today. The end of the mandel gets blocked by the bead release so that all the breathe is directed through the new hole.
Puffy Mandrel Cont.
I was hesitant to try with the stainless steel hollow mandrels as each costs just under £7 but did cut a slit with some brass tubing and it worked quite well but the brass tends to heat up a little too much. At the Flame Off on Saturday, I bought two more hollow mandrels and first cut a small indentation with a jewellers saw, then another across it to give the drill bit something to bite on. Drilled slowly to allow the drill and drill bit to cool between each drilling session and eventually got through the tubing. I covered the mandrel with bead release yesterday and will attempt a blown hollow today. The end of the mandel gets blocked by the bead release so that all the breathe is directed through the new hole.