Help on using sterling silver mesh??

[Dee Dee]

I want to make some bhb's similar to this bead....


il_570xN_23981240 by Beads by Stephanie, on Flickr

I've got some silver mesh and tried quite a few times - but the mesh either melts away too much, becomes patchy or doesn't melt enough - generally the result is rubbish!

Does anyone have any advice/tips on how to achieve this?

(I'm not sure who this beads belongs to, so apologies if I've nabbed your bead as an example!)

[DKS]

I don't post very often, but as no-one has answered you yet... It looks like the mesh in the bead shown has been completely melted, had it been on most colours it would have left dots only, but because it's on a colour that's reacted with the silver you get the lines too. Try using a colour that will react (maybe rubino?).

Also, I assume you're using fine silver mesh because I don't think sterling works.

Denise

[Dee Dee]

Hi Denise, thanks, yes I'm using fine silver - it's not so much the reaction I'm after (ie leaving the lines) but the dots that are left - I can't seem to get the look evenly??

[DKS]

I haven't done the melted in thing for ages, lately I've been encasing but leaving it unmelted. Try encasing it then heating deeply.