Hello!

I have a quick question after watching this video...Mr Frank applied Amacote/ scalex to the back of the piece, and then proceeded on to apply the cloisonne wires with blu-stick, and then apply enamels via wet inlay...

My question is- what happened regarding the amacote/ scalex...how long was it on the piece, when is it to be removed?

Any help in understanding would be greatly appreciated.

all the best,

Julie

 

Hi Julie,
Scalex shall prevent the copper-oxidation. Also if it not prevent the oxidation really, so it is however more easy, to remove the scale from the copper. Normally the scale fall off after the first firing.
I prefer enameling the front and the back side at the same time. Fall down scale is always a problem.
It is no problem to enamel boh sides of the work piece at the same time. Mix into the wet counter-enamel some drops of holding agent. Coat the back side with this mix and let dry it. After that put the work piece onto  a firing-rack. Work on the front side as usual.

Edmund

Hello Edmund!

Regarding firescale protection, all noted with thanks!

However, Ricky seemed to be using the scalex to coat the counter enamel so that it would not stick to the fiberglass pad (cool item!) while he fired the blu-stick and cloisonne wires onto the front...

I just could not figure out if the scalex remained on the piece for all the firings that followed, since they were all on the fiberglass pad...?

It seems like it would be...does it last for multiple firings?  never saw him re-apply, remove or clean it off...interesting!

Best Regards,

Julie

This post was edited by Julie B at August 13, 2015 11:43 AM EDT

Hi Julie,
Having learned in a workshop with Ricky, the Amacote is used to coat the counter enamel so that it can be fired on the fiberglass cloth. That way you can avoid having to use a trivet which leaves marks and risks the piece slipping on the trivet during transport in/out of the kiln. It seems to last through several firings w/o needing to be reapplied. I don't bother removing it as I typically set my piece in a bezel with a closed back but it is easy to remove with a diamond disc on a flex shaft if necessary. Another option is to fire your piece on siltex firing cloth which doesn't even require Amacote but will leave a slight woven imprint on the counter enamel. Hope that helps!

Megan

Hi Megan,

Ok, great! Thanks so much for explaining all that to me!

 

Best Regards,

Julie