Comments on: Enameling on Copper http://alohilanidesigns.com/enameling-on-copper/ Patsy Croft's Enamel and Goldsmith Blog Mon, 21 May 2012 11:45:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Patsy Croft http://alohilanidesigns.com/enameling-on-copper/comment-page-1/#comment-1259 Patsy Croft Wed, 17 Nov 2010 16:32:59 +0000 http://alohilanidesigns.com/?p=34#comment-1259 Hey Monika, Welcome to the word of enameling. It sure is fun! On your question, 80 mesh is better for transparent clarity on Fine Silver. You need to use closer to a 200 mesh on copper. There are sives to separate the mesh sizes. Then when you have the 200 mesh, wash it with distilled water to remove smaller mesh and you will get beautiful gold color to the copper. I clean my copper with comet cleaner, rinse well and apply the enamel. On your transparents are you firing on copper or fine silver? If fine silver at 20 ga and the size of a quarter, I will fire at 1425 max. and usually that will bring my firing time to 1 minute and 15 seconds. Copper you can fire higher 1450. If the edges are burning, and without seeing, it is possible you have transparent enamel falling over the flux at the edge and that is burning. That burn is very interesting as it is a chemical that will spread into the rest of your enamel the more you fire. So you may need to expand the coverage of your base flux. If this does not help send me a photo. Good Luck, Patsy Croft Hey Monika,
Welcome to the word of enameling. It sure is fun! On your question, 80 mesh is better for transparent clarity on Fine Silver. You need to use closer to a 200 mesh on copper. There are sives to separate the mesh sizes. Then when you have the 200 mesh, wash it with distilled water to remove smaller mesh and you will get beautiful gold color to the copper. I clean my copper with comet cleaner, rinse well and apply the enamel.

On your transparents are you firing on copper or fine silver? If fine silver at 20 ga and the size of a quarter, I will fire at 1425 max. and usually that will bring my firing time to 1 minute and 15 seconds. Copper you can fire higher 1450. If the edges are burning, and without seeing, it is possible you have transparent enamel falling over the flux at the edge and that is burning. That burn is very interesting as it is a chemical that will spread into the rest of your enamel the more you fire. So you may need to expand the coverage of your base flux. If this does not help send me a photo.

Good Luck, Patsy Croft

]]> By: monika applebaum http://alohilanidesigns.com/enameling-on-copper/comment-page-1/#comment-1258 monika applebaum Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:53:43 +0000 http://alohilanidesigns.com/?p=34#comment-1258 HI Patsy, Would Thompsons 80 mesh be fine enough to put a base on copper to eliminate the oxidation? Should it be finer? What size mesh? Also, I am new to the whole world of color and would like to know how to get transperants totally clear without burning the edges? I am firing at 1450 for about 2 minutes. Thanks so much. Monika HI Patsy, Would Thompsons 80 mesh be fine enough to put a base on copper to eliminate the oxidation? Should it be finer? What size mesh? Also, I am new to the whole world of color and would like to know how to get transperants totally clear without burning the edges? I am firing at 1450 for about 2 minutes. Thanks so much. Monika

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