Nice strike on that marble Fai. I use first quality rod mostly and I use odd quality rod for stringers. I don't use seconds because I have found
rods with rocks and bubbles hard to work with. I would purchase single rods of different colors for practice. Maybe more than one rod in some colors
that I think I will use.
When you start make sure to be out towards the last 1/3 of your torch flame, at least until things get heated up enough to start a gather.
I prefer to coat my Cads with clear when striping to help keep it from boiling, makes it able to take more heat.