Using copper wire???

[Pixiedebs]

Hi everyone,

Tonight I'm going to have my first attempt at using fine silver wire on my beads!!!  But I'm using a fair bit of copper clay at the moment and wondered if anyone had ever used/tried to use copper wire on their beads???

Thanks
Dxx

[Mary]

On the surface copper wire goes grey/green blah, but if you encase it without it touching the flame, it goes pinky red. Very effective! "Chaos" beads are done with copper wire mesh, or you can use foil to punch out shapes. Or copper leaf on the surface, especially with enamels, goes blue/green verdigris colour. Hmmm, think that will keep you busy experimenting, lol!

[Pixiedebs]

Thanks Mary.  You're right that will keep me busy.  I'll try it encased.

Dx

[Dragonfire Glass]

Yes, I've used copper wire and it does just the same as copper foil, goes red 

[Trudi]

These are made with copper foil. You do need to get the glas hot for it to stick  - and I always keep the foil out of the flame until it's encased! Unless you want lines across it's best to melt a blog of glass and "swish" it over the foil in one go.

Strange how the copper goes red in the flame, but if I fuse it in the kiln (same kiln as the beads) it goes blue!

[hollergrafik]

oooh very pretty Trudi

[Trudi]

Thanks! 

[dinah46]

Well I just wrote a whole reply here and it's vanished

I'll try again.
A good way to use these copper shapes is to use your brass press when applying. If you do your initial bead shaping then put the copper shape in the right position in the press, heat the bead up and then place it in the press where it will pick up the shape.  Keep it out of the direct heat while you melt the clear and then 'paint' the clear over the shape.  Do the final shaping in the press, voila

If you are using a press with several sizes it's handy to shape the bead initially in a smaller size, pick up the copper shape, cover with clear and then reshape in the next size press shape

Very lovely beads Trudi

[GlassOcean]

I have used unravelled copper scouring scrubby pad things, they are fun, but they have to be pure copper not copper plated (I found this out the hard way  )

[Mary]

Those are pretty Trudi!

[Trudi]

Those are pretty Trudi!

The top one is even prettier in real life and now mine
mwahahahaha

weren't you using that to make jewellery for your fairs???

So glad you like it!