On Monday, April 30, 2018 at 1:40:37 PM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
But the problem is that this application will be used to work with
molten glass . There's a glass bead maker here that wants me to make
some rods for making the beads . The "working end" of these , that is in
actual contact with the glass , is carbideÂ* , the "handle" is steel ..
I'll be getting more info from her when we get together next week , but
would like to have some ideas in hand by then .

--
Snag
Ain't no dollar sign on
peace of mind - Zac Brown

I suspect that stainless steel will work just fine. May not last forever, but would be much less expensive to make.

Dan