Item Name: Moretti Effetre Rod - Pastel Neptune - 4mm - 7mm SKU: 1556230GCM Description: This is a solid, colored soft-glass rod made by Effetre Moretti in the Neptune Pastel color family. Rod is the standard working form for soft-glass lampworking because it lets you heat a controlled gather in the flame and apply glass precisely where you need it, whether you are building a bead, adding surface decoration, or making small sculptural components. Neptune Pastel is a smooth, opaque pastel tone that works well when you want a clean, even color without transparency. It is commonly used for spacer beads, base beads for surface designs, and for pulling stringer to add fine lines, dots, and simple scrollwork. Like most soft-glass rod, it is also useful for quick color accents over compatible base colors and for building up layers before shaping with hand tools. How it is used: Preheat the rod tip in the outer flame to reduce thermal shock, then bring it up to a working glow. Wind molten glass onto a prepared mandrel to form beads, or apply it directly to a hot base bead for striping and spot color. Pull stringer from a heated gather for fine linework, dots, and detail. Shape with a marver or paddle while the glass is still workable to true up rounds, barrels, and tabs. Anneal finished work in a kiln using an appropriate schedule for soft glass. Dimensions: Rod diameter: 4mm – 7mm