Hello Dick,

Whether you can solder the chicken mesh depends on the amount of
oxides. When it is very glossy (like a fresh soldered PCB), you may use
solder with a flux core (as you use for normal electronic assembly or
rework). I do not like this method for large solder jobs.

However, when it looks dull, you should use the aggressive paste or
liquid flux in combination with solder without flux (as used by
plumbers). The liquid flux (I think zinc solution in hydrochloric
acid) works well (I'm still using it) However, after soldering, you
have to clean thoroughly with abundant warm water with soap to avoid
corrosion. The aggressive flux stays active, also at normal
temperature.

I prefer the aggressive flux in combination with cleaning. After
cleaning, you can use normal flux core solder.

When I solder several pieces of mesh together, I first strap them
together with metal wire (in their final position), so I can fully
concentrate myself on the soldering.

I do not know your radial arrangement, but when the mesh will replace
the radials, I would remove them.

When the existing radial wires are not insulated, you may get
unreliable contact between the mesh and the radials. In combination
with small mechanical movements (wind), this may generate noise.

As the conductivity of wire mesh is not that good and somewhat
unpredictable, you may put (solder) small radial (about 30cm) wires
from the point where you ground your coaxial feeder.

I hope this will help you.

Wim
PA3DJS