bigger is better. at least when you're melting copper.

i think i am destined not to sleep.  oh well.  means that i had a little extra time to research copper and how to set it on fire.  and i have a possible solution to my problem.  i have to go bigger............ in that i need a bigger torch.  *insert evil villain's laugh here and find the fire extinguisher*

my initial problem started because i assumed that copper wire would respond to the flame in the same way that sterling, argentium and fine silver does.  while copper does have a relatively low melt temperature (around 1900 degrees F) it is also an excellent heat conductor (hence its use in electrical, thermal and building applications) which sucks for me because this means that the metal draws the heat faster than i can supply it via my small handheld torch.  it also results in the wire "breaking" before the ball is completely formed at the end of my wire.  eureka!

apparently, a larger torch works even better and with a little tweaking of my technique, should get me the results that i want.  so today, i'm off to home depot and grabbing myself something bigger and hotter.  (that would be a plumber's torch.  get your mind out of the gutter.)