Silver balls are easy to make. All you need is some scrap silver, a torch, and a charcoal block. I never make balls on any other surface than charcoal. Charcoal seems to keep the balls from becoming distorted, maybe because other surfaces reflect more heat back. The first step is to select or cut some small scraps of sheet or wire, and place them on the charcoal block with some space between each.

The next step is to light your torch, and gently heat each scrap. As it melts, it will ball up because of surface tension.

Be careful as they liquefy, because if your charcoal block is old, or worn to an angle, they may roll off onto the table or your lap.

Melt all of the scraps and then turn off your torch.

Pick up your charcoal block by a cool corner or with your tongs, and scrape the new silver balls into your pickle. Let them soak for about 10 minutes.

I like to keep balls of all sizes on hand so I can choose them at random for unique designs, but occasionally, I will need carefully calibrated sizes. To make progressively bigger balls, take 18 or 20 gauge wire and snip it in increments that increase by about 1/8 inch each time. If you would like balls of consistent size, snip off pieces that are equal length.

Here are the balls from the equal sized lengths of wire and from the gradually increasing lengths.

You will find that if you start to make balls that are a little bigger, gravity will flatten them slightly, making it impossible to create spherical ones.