Hi Mistyannemarold,

I'm not sure where you are having a problem. I use 'Handy Flux' (paste). After applying flux, you should place the wire about an inch from the 'blue' part of your flame & move or twirl the wire around until it forms a ball. Also, you might want to try using a charcoal block. I use an acetylene & air set up which burns a little hotter than propane & air.

Peggy

Copper oxidizes fast and that is why a paste flux will work better for you than the liquids. Silver is much easier to do this with and the new Argentium silver is even easier. Practice helps. Can you melt the tip of the wire when it is laying flat and you are not trying to ball up the end? If you find this temperature than it might be easier for you to adjust that to just balling up the end.

marilyn

Misty.
I'll bet you are trying to take the heat to the wire, and for some reason you're not getting the heat control balling an end requires. Try this: light your torch leave it in the holder or stand. Use a cross lock tweezer to hold your wire. bring the end you want to ball up down into the blue tip of the flame. Many people find they have much more control over the wire than they do the torch. With this method the metal melts and travels up the wire. You gain time to react and a bunch of control. A few quick bounces of the wire into the tip of the flame should ball the end. For more control chuck the wire up in a pin vise. then it's easier to twist the wire as you introduce it to the flame. Paste flux. Wear a headset so you can see what's happening at the end of the wire. Best of luck Brad