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Surfactant, what is it?

  • Ingrid Regula
    • 6 posts
    August 18, 2017 11:48 PM EDT

    Recently, I watched an enameling instruction video and Surfactant was used as a kind of cleaning procedure between coats and stenciling. I have been enameling in the USA for 45 years and never heard of it before now!  How can one get some?   Ingrid Regula


    This post was edited by Ingrid Regula at August 18, 2017 11:50 PM EDT
  • Trish White
    • Moderator
    • 114 posts
    August 19, 2017 11:37 AM EDT

    Surfactant is a substance that tends to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.

    It is basically dish detergent - Dawn seems to be the most popular brand - 

    I took a workshop with Jan Harrel and she dabs a bit on clean copper then wipes it away with paper towel.

     

  • Ingrid Regula
    • 6 posts
    August 19, 2017 8:33 PM EDT

    Thank You Trish, You made it so easy as i also have Dawn in the house: I will try it and see what it will do for me and my class.

  • Anna Margolis
    • 6 posts
    November 20, 2017 2:27 AM EST
    Do I only use it directly on copper/silver or also on subsequent layers?
  • Trish White
    • Moderator
    • 114 posts
    November 20, 2017 7:48 AM EST

    Just a dab on the base of the metal and wipe away -