I have been doing some experimenting with fire glazing enamels onto copper
and silver and have had success with tubular pieces. My question is whether
or not this can translate into flat pieces. So far, I have been trying to
work with a flat piece on a tripod but I’m having trouble controlling the
enamel (using Klyr-Fire as the wetting medium) and preventing it from
forming unevenly. I know there will be some difference in thickness (not
using any channel/cloisonne wire) which will have to be stoned down but this
is beyond that. So far, I haven’t found this addressed in any of my
references since most of them concentrate on kiln-firing.
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Is it better to concentrate the torch on
the bottom of the piece rather than playing across the enamel? All comments
are greatly appreciated!
I might suggest getting a bee hive kiln, they’re only $100+. I have a
poor success rate with a torch, and usually just pit the enamel when
directing the torch down at the piece. Tough call…
Susan Chenoweth wrote:
Anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Is it better to concentrate the torch on
the bottom of the piece rather than playing across the enamel? All comments
are greatly appreciated!
Handmade 18K, 22K, and platinum gemstone fine jewelry.
Diamond setting, rubber/metal molds, casting, lapidary
Die and mold engraving, plastic patterns for casting.
Cad jewelry design, cad/cam milling scroll filigree…
P O Box 2057 Fairfield IA 52556 515-469-6250
But just looking into glazing… Not enamel, but enamel substitutes… as
described in many, most catalogs … why not use them???
Jim
Always time for you, Jim ;-). Tried the Ceramit (oven firing substitute)
but it is just a bit too fragile for some of the pieces I’ve been doing.
Not bad for some things, though.
You might try the two part epoxy colors from Rio Grande and I have used
them with some success.They have to be baked on at 300 degrees but I use
a light bulb for the purpose and it works well.These epoxy resins get
nearly as hard as enamel but are not as brittle…G.
That’s the one I was going to ORDER!!! Can get ‘2’ levels of hardner???
did you try both???
Jim
Jim,
AAAAGH! “2” levels of hardener? Where?!? Which catalog? All I got was
the generic “here it is, it comes with it” stuff; perhaps the other would be
better for me. Please, please tell me where you found this (I probably have
the catalog since I have a catalog library of 200+ vendors).
That’s the one I was going to ORDER!!! Can get ‘2’ levels of hardner???
did you try both???
Jim
Jim,
AAAAGH! “2” levels of hardener? Where?!? Which catalog? All I got was
the generic “here it is, it comes with it” stuff; perhaps the other would be
better for me. Please, please tell me where you found this (I probably have
the catalog since I have a catalog library of 200+ vendors).
Actually, I have over 200 catalogs; I have a LIST of over 500. Some of
those are primarily beads, but yup, I got 'em.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Jewelry cgems@pipeline.com
i am so jealous of the size most of mine are for findings, tools, gems,
mfgers. did you know that every war ever fought was for gold? every
war!!!mike g.
Actually, I have over 200 catalogs; I have a LIST of over 500. Some of
those are primarily beads, but yup, I got 'em.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Jewelry cgems@pipeline.com
i am so jealous of the size most of mine are for findings, tools, gems,
mfgers. did you know that every war ever fought was for gold? every
war!!!mike g.
Mike,
Yikes! Hope this doesn’t mean war . The majority that I have kept are
metals, findings, tools, gems, mfgrs and some that just plain have good tips
in them. I do keep some of the ones with beads since I occasionally
incorporate them into designs as well, but limit myself to precious metals
and gemstone beads; I know I’m a snob in this respect. The ones I haven’t
kept are either junk or too expensive, but I maintain the list so I can
remember which are what. Ever have any questions, ask away and I’ll check
the database…
Susan
OK … A Catalog war… Ladies against the Guys … Susan can’t play!!.. she
cheats…
Jim
At 10:46 AM 11/7/96 -0500, you wrote:
At 08:56 AM 11/7/96 -0600, you wrote:
Susan Chenoweth wrote:
Actually, I have over 200 catalogs; I have a LIST of over 500. Some of
those are primarily beads, but yup, I got 'em.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Jewelry cgems@pipeline.com
i am so jealous of the size most of mine are for findings, tools, gems,
mfgers. did you know that every war ever fought was for gold? every
war!!!mike g.
Mike,
Yikes! Hope this doesn’t mean war . The majority that I have kept are
metals, findings, tools, gems, mfgrs and some that just plain have good tips
in them. I do keep some of the ones with beads since I occasionally
incorporate them into designs as well, but limit myself to precious metals
and gemstone beads; I know I’m a snob in this respect. The ones I haven’t
kept are either junk or too expensive, but I maintain the list so I can
remember which are what. Ever have any questions, ask away and I’ll check
the database…
Susan
OK … A Catalog war… Ladies against the Guys … Susan can’t play!!.. she
cheats…
Jim
At 10:46 AM 11/7/96 -0500, you wrote:
At 08:56 AM 11/7/96 -0600, you wrote:
Susan Chenoweth wrote:
Actually, I have over 200 catalogs; I have a LIST of over 500. Some of
those are primarily beads, but yup, I got 'em.
Susan
C Gems
Original Designs and Period Jewelry cgems@pipeline.com
i am so jealous of the size most of mine are for findings, tools, gems,
mfgers. did you know that every war ever fought was for gold? every
war!!!mike g.
Mike,
Yikes! Hope this doesn’t mean war . The majority that I have kept are
metals, findings, tools, gems, mfgrs and some that just plain have good tips
in them. I do keep some of the ones with beads since I occasionally
incorporate them into designs as well, but limit myself to precious metals
and gemstone beads; I know I’m a snob in this respect. The ones I haven’t
kept are either junk or too expensive, but I maintain the list so I can
remember which are what. Ever have any questions, ask away and I’ll check
the database…
Susan
i am so jealous of the size most of mine are for findings, tools, gems,
mfgers. did you know that every war ever fought was for gold? every
war!!!mike g.
Mike,
Yikes! Hope this doesn’t mean war . The majority that I have kept are
metals, findings, tools, gems, mfgrs and some that just plain have good tips
in them. I do keep some of the ones with beads since I occasionally
incorporate them into designs as well, but limit myself to precious metals
and gemstone beads; I know I’m a snob in this respect. The ones I haven’t
kept are either junk or too expensive, but I maintain the list so I can
remember which are what. Ever have any questions, ask away and I’ll check
the database…
Susan