ARTICLE by DREW FRITTS  

Make Your Own Rod Rest

    A rod rest is used to prop up hot glass rods and tools to keep them from burning the work surface.  The hot end is laid over the rod rest while the other end rests on the work surface.  It also prevents glass rods from rolling around, and keeps them evenly spread so they're easier to pick up while working.  They can be purchased at any of the glass supply houses or local stained glass stores that carry bead making supplies.  However, they're also fairly easy to make with a sheet of aluminum flashing and an old single-hole punch.

Finished Rod Rest

SUPPLIES AND TOOLS NEEDED: 

• Aluminum Flashing.  This can be purchased in rolls or in small sheets at most home building supply stores, or hardware stores.  The small rectangular sheets are large enough to make 2 or 3 rests and are very inexpensive.
  
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• Single-hole Paper Punch - These can be purchased at any place that sells office supplies or school supplies.  They're also fairly inexpensive.  If you already have one and use it, you'll probably want to pick up a new one to use on paper.
   
• Tin Snips or Old Scissors
   

MAKE YOUR OWN: 

1. Cut a strip of aluminum flashing that is 8 inches long (or however long you want the rest to be) by 1.25 inches wide (or twice the height you desire).
   

   
    
2. Use a straightedge and a carpet knife (or something strong and pointed, like a nail) to score a line down the center of the strip of flashing.  This will help when folding the strip in step 7.
    
3. Starting 1/4-inch from the end of the strip, mark 1/2-inch increments along the centerline.
    
4. Using an old single-hole paper punch, punch holes centered over each incremental mark up the centerline. 
    
   
5. With the scored line facing down, lay the strip lengthwise along the edge of the workbench (or a desk, or a sheet of plywood - something that has a straight, sharp edge).  Allow half the strip to overhang the edge.  This means that the workbench will be visible through half of each hole, and the other half of each hole will be hanging over the edge. 
   
    
6. Clamp the strip in that position (or hold it very tightly).
   
7. Bend down the half of the strip that is overhanging the edge.  This will bend the strip to approximately 90 degrees.. 
    
    
8. Remove the strip and bend it in just a little more.
    
9. Set it on the workbench and adjust it until it sits straight.. 
    
10. Enjoy your new, cheap rod rest!.
    

This article is reprinted from my book Torchworked Marbles, Vol. 1.  copyright 2004 by Drew Fritts.  For more information about my book, Click Here.