Silver and Encasing?!!

[Tina]

Hello,

This is the first time that I have asked a question ......I am hoping that I am doing this right....I wanted to ask -

When you are using Silver Foil do you have to encase the bead?

Thanks to Dilly53 for your question to. I have been looking for the same beads caps...... :-D

Any advice will be greatfully received.

[kimberly]

Hi Tina.

It depends on the effect you want. If you want to have the silver leaf or foil LOOK like silver, then encasing is a good way to go. The leaf and/or foil may rub off over time if it is not protected in some way. The same holds true for gold leaf. If you are using foil or leaf for the color effects you can get, or if you melt it in really well and end up with tiny, netted dots of silve, then you don't need to encase it. If you encase it, you need to be very careful with your heat as too much heat while you are making your bead will cause the foil and/or leaf to disappear under the caseing glass.

[LauraT]

It depends on what you are trying to do. If you use ivory as a base the silver interacts with the glass and becomes smooth on the suface. If you are using transparent blue for instance the silver would adhere to the surface and even after burnishing it would be rough. That is if you didn't burn the silver off reheating the bead. I would think it would tarnish too????

Laura T

[dogmaw]

I've had trouble putting silver foil on the entire bead then encasing. If I'm using silver foil, I tend to use it in strips so there is always some glass to glass contact when I encase. This seems to prevent the cracking problems I was getting.

[Tina]

Thanks to all of you
Kimberley - I love your website and your beads....thank you for the advise, the beads I have just made have the netted effect, I wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing, but as I like the effect I decided it was good!!!
LauraT - Thanks, I am still learning about all the effect/colours, so thanks for the tips. I thought I had done something wrong when the bead felt a bit rough!
Dogmaw - I have had the same problem with the silver when I cover the whole bead. Didn't think to just use strip.....doh!!! I am still experimenting so thanks for your tips. Loving your website and jewellery.

Thanks again