Not all quality of stainless steal is enamelable. The best is, you ask "Thompson Enamel" : http://www.thompsonenamel.com . They have the stainless steal and the compatible enamels. 

Edmund

Dear Vincent,

I have enamelled stainless steels, so it's possible. There are two types, and only one of them can be enamelled. You can recognize it because it is attracted to magnets, whereas the stainless steel that doesn't react on magnet cannot be enamelled. You also need aspecial base enamel. I have used industrial enamels, of the sort used for pots or bathtubs. It's possible to make pretty onteresting thigs with these enamels. However, I have no idea where you could get them. I'd guess at places where they make enamelled pots, plates etc. I bought mine from a friend, who bought her enamels in Eastern Europe. If you manage to get enamels and have more question, I'd be glad to help you as far as I can.

Good luck,

Judith 

Hi Vincent,

Have you had any success with enamelling 316L stainless steel, I'm interested in doing it myself too. I've heard that you need to rough up the surface quite a lot before the enamel will bond. Even then the enamel doesn't bond as well as with low carbon steel.

I'm considering copper or silver plating the steel first to see if this improves the enamel adhesion. I don't know if anyone else has tried this but I read about it somewhere.

The only reason to enamel on Stainless Steel would be to leave sections bear of enamel. Stainless has an extremely high melting point, 2500 degrees, that's why it's used for trivets, which in turn makes it harder to infuse the enamel into the steel because of the high melting point.  If you want the stainless for it's lack of impurities, it's not worth the trouble or cost. I use 22 gage cold rolled steel. I have come up with a process of cleaning the steel with approximately 95-100% success rate for firing.  Notebook #1 Liquid enamels center of page under steel preparation. Stainless has also risen in price by 100% because of the nickel it take to manufacture it has shot up in price. 

Dear all, could anyone kindly advise me if it is possible to enamel on high grade stainless steel (316L)? From what I understand it may be possible with high expansion enamels, but I do not who produces these or where to source them? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks you very much in advance.
Vincent