Making Your Own Trivets for Enameling
I am sure you have come to a point at some time, that the enameling project you have created will not fit on the standard trivets for enameling available to us. So we are pushed to be inventive, and make your own trivet for enameling.*)
You can see this is an odd shape Plique a Jour Necklace, and in the enameling process, it needs to be turned different directions. I wanted to share the trivet I made from kiln fire brick and heat tempered wire. There is ordering information under resources for the wire but you can find it on Amazon.
Make your own trivet for enameling.
Another option here is a trivet for enameling that I have created for a long thin cloisonne jewel. If I were to use standard trivets the enamel jewel would warp as the side could not be supported.
The base is fire brick trivet. You can use your jeweler’s saw to cut these shapes, then a half round hand file to make a grove to place the cloisonne jewel on. The sides are supported and the back is not touching the enameling trivet. This way the counter-enamel that is required in this cloisonne jewel is just as pretty as the front. I have a fire cloth lying between the brick and the enamel so I will not have any of the firebrick dust in the enamel back.
This week as I was enameling cufflinks and needed a way to fire both sides at once and not have the enamel touching anything the high temp wire came in handy again. This enameling trivet allowed me to achieve just what I needed.
Enameling trivets can also be a challenge when enameling in a trinket kiln. I see enameling artist searching the internet for a trivet to fit. The first image is a one inch square of stainless steel, with the corners bent up. Using a pair of needle nose pliers you can easily place this trivet in and out of a trinket kiln.
The next small simple trivet is made from the Heat Tempered Wire you can bend to your needs. This fits easily into the trinket kiln and the trivet will not disturb any of the enameling surfaces.
Happy Enameling, Patsy
I have used nichrome wire bent hanging from a steel rod for a small enameled formed pod shape with a hole drilled in the top of the enamel piece. I bent a u shape in both ends of the wire and hung one end in the piece and the end of the wire U shape, hung on the rod.
thank you for the share, Patsy
Hi, I am also searching for the correct trivet as I make awkward shapes. What thickness stainless steel do you recommend
Hi Brendan,
The standard trivet in stainless steel is 1mm or .04″ The hard part is finding quality stainless. This is why I make most of mine from fire brick and the high temp wire.
Good luck, Patsy
Hi Patsy, thanks so much, really appreciate your reply
Any time! I added another one to show how easy these work.
Have fun enameling, Patsy
Hi Joe, updating some questions on the site as things have changed lately. But you can buy the wire on Amazon. It is Kemper High Temp Wire 17 Gauge 10 Feet Great General Purpose Support Wire (Original Version).
Check it out, Patsy
thnaks for sharing. I make trivets too with tops of cans (iron cans of course) , they can be used a number of time depending on metal thickness. They are so easy and fast to make that it is worth it. you can make them in all siez..depending on the cans too
I put the tutorial on the website link
I love your work and your blog !!!
regards
fan
Thank you Fran.
These are ingenious!! I have kiln brick sitting around, and also the hi-temp wire. I never thought of making my own. Thanks so much, and thanks for being such a wonderful resource!!