ArtMetal

My husband recently welded me a 4-legged soldering stand for use in jewelry making from standard steel bar. My challenge is that all the "hardware" cloth I've found to place over the frame-work either melts when heated from a propane torch or it coated in paint that makes terrible fumes. It also occasionally catches on fire (oh such wonderful fun in our basement workshop). So, what kind of mesh should I use that can withstand direct and prolonged heat from a propane torch?