Right..you roll clay on to the tube keeping it less than the bushings. Then you slice the canes thin and even as you can and apply them over the top gently roll them into the base layer of clay which will increase the amount of clay on the tube..that's why your base layer needs to be less than you think. After the canes are pressed in, you bake the pen per whatever the instructions on the clay says. You can then come back and spin or sand it, but not very much because then you'll remove the cane slices. The semi transparent white that surrounds "clear" canes, will disappear when baked, becoming just clear and revealing the background behind it..assuming you cut the canes thin enough and evenly. Personally I found a straight blade ..disposable razor blade like what comes with a box cutter works real nice as the blade is real thin and you make a little guillotine sorta jig to help you cut evenly as I have shaky hands.