Hi
I am new to silversmithing and after having taken a few lessons from a professional, am now trying to figure it out alone (because I moved too far away from my lovely teacher!). I am trying to set a stone in a bezel. I bought silver bezel strip from Cookson, but I keep melting it. I know that's probably because I need more practice with torch control etc. And I want to keep trying. But I wanted to not waste the scrap bezel strip that I messed up. I tried to heat it up and make those little balls but it doesn't melt properly. It gets misshapen but never liquifies and balls up. When I use silver wire I can make balls with no problem. What's happening?! Seems unfair that I melt bezel strip when I don't want to (when I'm trying to solder it) but can't melt it when I want it to melt!!! Should silver bezel strip do the melt and ball thing? Why wouldn't it?! Help! Thanks!