Hi Patsy,
You can use steel mandrels as punties as well and it might give you more control while pulling out your wigwag. These are a wonderful exercise in learning how to read the heat so don't give up. If you are only getting a thick short pull with your whole gather you need a deeper heat to start with. Don't give up, mastering a technique takes time and since you are new there will be a learning curve. These are all in soft glass