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TORCH FIRED ENAMEL TUTORIAL #1 with CHRIS HIERHOLZER -

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  • Trish White
    Leader
     
    September 9, 2011

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The first in his series of Torch fired Enamels  tutorials - "Sgraffito/gold Foil"

     

    Note: A torch can be purchased at Lowes or Home Depot. It is a MAP Gas Kit and uses a disposable gas cyclinder. The tip is standard with the kit. I also use an acetylene with the same results with a #3 torch tip.

     

    I also use ninamiya enamels,which are leaded enamels, with these tutorials..I also wears IR glasses shade 3 and a respirator..all these items are available through..www.enamelworksupply.com
    phone#1800 596 3257...coral shaffer

     



    THE END

  • Melodie Moshure
    Member
     
    September 9, 2011

    Very good intructions!...I like the use of the comprehensive pictures too.

    Thankyou for sharing this with us!...I've done most of it before but never had the nerve to use my gold foil...

    I liked too how you slowly moved in and assisted the visual with numbers on the firebrick...

    Melodie

    (Nice Cat...lol)

  • Tonya Powell
    Member
     
    September 9, 2011
    Fantastic tutorial, Chris! Thank you for putting this together.
  • Terry Brake
    Member
     
    September 11, 2011

    Very clear, simple presentation, great help.

     

  • Melinda Johnson
    Member
     
    September 11, 2011
    Great tutorial!  It's interesting that you don't need to cover the gold foil with transparent enamel before fusing it to the base coat with the torch.  Since gold foil oxidizes if you don't protect it with enamel before firing in the kiln, it's great to be able to fuse it this way.  I could see how it would be useful if you wanted to add a gilded look at the end of the enameling process without the distraction of enamel over the gold.
  • Steve Artz
    Member
     
    September 11, 2011

    Hi everyone finally back to Grains after a very long time.

    Chris don't know if you remember me, but congrats, a really nice , simple tutorial for torch firing, nice work!

    Glad you continued to torch enamel after JCCFS. Hope you will be at the ES conference this week, like to see/ talk to you again!

    Steve Artz

  • Mike Moretti
    Member
     
    July 31, 2012

    What does the back finally look like after all the firing into the counterenamel from the bottom?  Is the counterenamel still good?  I've found that when I do this it melts all over the place and leaves gaps.


    Thanks!

    -m

  • Catherine Crowe
    Member
     
    July 3, 2013

    Chris - these are fantastic torch firing tutorials. It really de-mystifies the process for me.

    I just have two questions:

    1. Why do you put flux under the black opaque

    2. What happens to the counter-enamel with continual application of the torch?

  • Francine Haywood
    Member
     
    July 11, 2013

    Hi Chris, thanks for the demo, it's very clear and your work is beautiful! just wanted to know what thickness gold foil you use and the name of the supplier, if you don't mind.

    I can't wait to try this technique!

    Also we have an acetylene torch at the studio but are thinking to get a mapp gas torch as well, is there any difference in the result?

    Thanks a lot for your help:)

  • Ndidi Kowalczyk
     
    May 24, 2018
    This is a wonderful tutorial. Thank you, Chris.

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