Good to hear, yes the thin layer also gives you more clarity in your transparent enamels, and easier to dry. You will fine not only is it less work to use fine silver, but the enamels are clearer, and sparkle more. You should purchase the fine silver and when you open it do not touch it, just around the edges to cut the sizes and start enameling. No annealing, it is pure silver and very soft. If you ever have to put it in pickle it might get a bit frosty. If you still do not have the jewel bubble free, up your temperature 20 degrees. You should not need to fire more than 1 minute 15 seconds on a 1 inch piece. So if you are firing longer and that could be the problem.

If you have a jewelers loupe look real hard at the jewel, as it might not be bubbles but small particles that did not get rinsed out when washing your enamels. You can tell as these are usually around the edges, where they settle as you are enameling.

Have Fun, Patsy

Emily,

Welcome!! It could be several things, but first let’s start with cleaning the metal. On copper use a product like Comet Cleanser.I see you are in the UK and may have this, have in the grocery store for cleaning kitchen surfaces. You can order Penny Brite from the enameling supplier. This is just for copper. On silver we do not usual enamel on 925 silver. We use pure or called fine silver.You will get bubbles on 925! If you have to enamel on 925 then you need to perform depletion on it as many as 10 times = heat and in pickle, rinse with clean warm water and a brass brush. Just lightly. You do not brass brush it the last time. And if you brush it too hard and not under running warm water you deposit brass on the sliver. Another one, let the enamels dry before firing. On copper fire at 1550 degrees. I fire on fine silver at 1420 degrees. If I fire too low I also would get tinny bubbles.No ultra sound. The difference in price in sterling silver and fine silver is not much, exp. to go through all the trouble of depleting.

Let me know how it goes! Patsy