Hello again, Its a while since I visited, Im enjoying my enamelling and am still learning I have hit a snag... I have etched several pieces of copper and I want to enamel them.  I know to clean etc and then apply clear flux and then a transparent enamal.. I can do this successfully on flat pieces and get half decent results... but  I dont know how much flux I should apply to my etched copper... do I put a thick, thin or medium coat on first.  If I use a thin coat what do I do when the dreaded firescale appears on the higher points of the etching... Do I  pickle it and then clean down and then apply another coat of flux until its uniform or.......?   Actually as I read what I have written it seems to me that's exactly what I do.. guess I need someone to hold my hand and gently steer me in the right direction...

Thank you

Fiona

Thank you Trish, as ever your answer makes perfect sense. I was lucky enough to get Linda Darty's book for my birthday.. Full of useful information, but not as much as you

Fiona, since what you want to accomplish here is what I do a lot, I like to give you also another answer. If you are using Thompson's lead-free Enamels you could take advantage of their wonderful transparents straight on the copper. Start with 2110 ivory and cover well by wetpacking evenly. Dry and fire at 1450 for at least 2 min. the first time. You will get a beautiful golden result .You can try other light transparents that dont need flux. I like these especially over my etching.  Hope that helps you along,  Ingrid Regula