I am Copper Mesh/Wire/Foil Challenged
 

HELP!
I made 3 of the most gorgeous beads last night. After I finished the bead I decided how cool a little copper wire would look (1 bead wire, 2 beads mesh). After I decided to use the copper and after I made each bead, I encased with clear, then put on the copper then I tried to turn it reddish here, but I just got the silvery grey. Then I encased it in clear hoping that would bring out the results and it didn't work either. One of the 3 beads, I didn't encase the original bead and placed the copper wire directly on ivory. I tried to turn it blueish following the instructions listed on the Tut's page about copper but I just burnt it to ick, but the ivory looked cool.

Anyway, right now I'll just take the magenta color. What I am I doing wrong?

If I use copper foil and encase it, it cracks, 9 out of 10 times. When I use foil though I use it for reaction so I never just burnish it then encase it. I really practically desolve it into the base color. Really pretty but depressing when it cracks.

I am by no means an expert, but I can tell you about my little experience playing with copper wire. I discovered the wire I was using had a coating (to keep it from tarnishing) that had to be burned away before placing on the bead. I made my tiny cute copper wire shapes, then using my needle nose pliers I flashed the shapes in the flame. I could see the stuff burning away. After that they did look cruddy (with firescale, I'm guessing) but I just proceeded with my experiments. They came out of the kiln (ivory base bead with the copper encased in clear) the lovely red color.

Teri P

I just cut it, put it on the bead and encase it. Mine are red before they even go in the kiln. I burn the foil in. It looks black but when I encase it it turns blue. I would do it on white instead of ivory, bty. I imagine you are having a bad reaction between the metals in the glass.

It worked. Thanks guys. Apparently I was doing it right all along cause the kiln fairies delivered the goods the next day.
Thanks for your help!

Evenia, could you post a picture of your beads. They sound lovely and I enjoy working with silver wire, foil and gold leaf, but have not ventured into copper territory yet. I would love to see your creations:)

Marlene