top of page

Members receive 8% OFF all classes and workshops!

Wanna Mesh Around? Fusing and Enameling Woven Steel Mesh

Instructor

Bette Barnett

In-Person

Monday
Oct 20, 2025
10:00 AM-5pm EST

3 Day Workshop

$540

Members receive 8% OFF!

Click Here to Join

Class Description

With characteristics of both fabric and metal, woven steel mesh offers incredible creative opportunities. It does, however, require specialized techniques. In this interactive workshop, students will learn to:


  • Understand mesh. What is woven steel mesh? What sizes are available? Where do you buy it? How can you use it?

  • Design with mesh. Integrating it with other forms of mild steel (sheet, perforated steel and wire) Combining it with non-traditional materials.

  • Using it to capture elements.

  • Work with mesh. Cutting, patterning, deforming/forming and scoring/bending it. Also, finishing edges and forming seams.

  • Solder or micro weld. Connecting mesh sheets. Soldering and cold connections.

  • Fuse gold and other metals to mesh. Fusing pallions and metal powder: gold, copper, silver and shibuichi.

  • Incorporate enamel in design. Using enamel to enhance design of mesh pieces. Torch and kiln firing.

  • Layer enameled mesh. Creating added interest by layering enameled steel mesh.

  • Patinating and sealing your work. Flame and chemical patinas. Wax, oil and lacquer sealers.During this workshop, students will have the opportunity to create various mesh forms, including cylinders, cubes and hemispheres. 


In addition, students will create at least two mesh pieces using fused metals and/or enamels.Each day will be a combination of demos, discussion and individual exploration. There will be plenty of time for students to work independently and the instructor will always be available provide one-on-one guidance, support and troubleshooting.

Prerequisite

Students should have taken at least two beginner classes and have basic metalsmithing skills.

Materials, Supplies & Tools

Class Dates

Day 1: BASICS OF WORKING WITH STEEL MESH
10-11 am Introductions, Objectives, class overview
11-12:00 am Basics of working with steel (including sawing and soldering demos)
12:00-1:00 pm Individual working time (creating a steel blank)
1:00-2:00 pm Lunch
2:00-3:30 pm Basics of working with steel mesh (including cutting, bending, forming, soldering and micro welding demos)
3:30-5:00 pm Individual work (cutting, forming and soldering mesh model shapes; create two dimensional mesh forms)

Day 2: FUSING GOLD AND OTHER METALS TO MESH
10:00-11:00 am Discussion of individual work; Incorporating mesh forms in jewelry
11:00 am - 11:30 pm Preparing non-ferrous metals and steel mesh for fusing, comparisons of fused metals on mesh (demo: preparing metals)
12:30-1:30 p.m. Individual work (preparing metals and mesh forms for fusing)
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Fusing metals to steel mesh forms (fusing demos: gold, silver, copper, shibuichi, white bronze powder, silver powder)
2:30-4:00 pm - Individual work (fusing metals to mesh forms)
4:00 - 4:30 pm Patinating mesh (demo: black, brown and solvent dye patinas); sealing mesh (oil, wax and lacquer)
4:30 - 5:00 p.m. Introduction to enameling (DAY 3). Incorporating enamel in design. Using enameling to enhance design of mesh pieces. (show examples)

Day 3: ENAMELING ON STEEL MESH
10:00 - 10:30 Preparing the steel mesh for enameling (demo)
10:30 - 11:30 pm Mixing, applying and drying liquid form enamels (demos)
11:30 12:30 pm Individual work ( (mixing and applying enamels)
12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 - 2:30 pm Firing the enamel. Torch and kiln firing. (demo) Layer enameled mesh. (demo) Sealing with wax (demo)
2:30 - 4:00 Individual work (firing enameled mesh)
4:00 - 5:00 Wrap-up and show-and-tell

bottom of page