How do you work wire mesh and dichro?
 

I just got my silver mesh on Friday and played a little bit with it on Saturday. The beads came out horrible.
How do you apply the silver mesh? How do you add the dichro? Once its added to you cover it with clear to keep it from melting into the bead? Anxious to know these pointers so I can play fairly with it!!!!!

Wilma

I can't help you with the mesh as I've never used it. I use a bit of dichro though!
Is the dichro on clear or black glass?
You have to work the dichro pretty cool to keep the coating from burning off. If you use clear dichro pick up a piece with your pliers (or holding tool of choice) and heat it on the glass side only. At the same time heat the spot on the bead where you want to place it. Put the dichro on the bead and concentrate on smooshing the edges down so the coating does not creep out. Heat the piece of dichro very carefully, just so it's pliable, and smoosh.
Cover the edges with clear and perhaps smoosh a bit more. Shape the bead carefully. You never want a bead with dichro to get drippy molten hot, only as hot as you need to shape it.
With the black dichro you have to be even more careful as you have to put it coating side up on the bead. Cover with clear ASAP! I've seen beads made with black dichro without encasing but that will take a lot of experience I'm sure to pull that off successfully.

I use the dichro strips from R4 glass, they are wonderful and take quite a lot of heat without burning the coating, unlike some other kinds I've tried.

Thank you Kiki for the information. I have both the clear and the black sided. I experimented last evening with the dichro, and didn't know what I was doint and it melted into the bead. A lesson learned. Thanks you again Kiki. Now to get my other question answered!!!

Bump

I love the silver mesh and use it a lot. You have to be very careful if you want it to remain mesh looking. Too much heat and well...mesh turns to dots. Which is great, if that is the look you are trying to achieve. If you want to keep the mesh look, after applying it, quickly cover it with a nice clear transparent.

Thank you very much!! Now I can/t wait to try that and the dichoric this weekend. Woo Hoo thanks again

Wilma