[Mustang Dawn]

I posted this over in a gallery thread so I thought I would repost it here. Wigwags are fun to make and really help you practice your heat control. This is how I make my wigwags.

1. Using the clear rod of glass wind a ½ inch long barrel shape on the bare end of 3/32 mandrel. Using clear for your base will give you a nice stiff glass to work with and will make pulling your wigwag much easier.

2. Next spiral encase with your base color rod that you want to use and melt smooth. Shape back into a barrel again using your graphite paddle. Make sure to cover your end of the barrel with your base color as well.

3. Now place stripes down your barrel with the different colors of glass. I use 3 to 4 different colors. You can use stringers and full size rods for your stripes to give you different looks.

4. Melt your stripes smooth and roll it into a barrel again.

5. Heat the end of the boro punty and your barrel end. Once they are glowing attach the boro punty to the end of the barrel.

6. Heat the barrel until glowing making sure your have a nice even heat throughout the barrel. This is what gives you a nice smooth wigwag. If you have uneven heat you will have ridges in your wigwags.

7. Next take the barrel out of the flame and let a skin form over the barrel. This is where you have to read the heat. The barrel can not be soft or too firm. Pull out about an inch from the front of the barrel and let it rest a few seconds, then twist one way 4 to 5 turns. Next keeping the flame toward the rear of your barrel pull out another inch of glass and twist the opposite direction 4 to 5 turns. Keep repeating this step until your barrel is too small to pull off any more glass. Your wigwag is now made.

Tip: When using wigwags I like to press them into my bead to keep the wigwag from spreading out.

Have Fun!