More About Lead Free Enamel - by Tom Ellis - Volume 10, No.1 - February 1991 Advantages of Lead Free enamel - High Acid Resistance - As well as being more resistant to attack from weather elements, high acid resistance allows art or commercial pieces with exposed metal areas to be submersed into acid for short time sequences without causing the enamel surface to become matted or dulled. -There is about a 25% reduction of weight in lead free enamels compared with lead bearing enamels. (You get more enamel for your money per pound.) -Lead free enamel has a slightly "scratch"harder surface than lead bearing enamel. -Lead free enamel has identical refractory appearance compared with lead bearing enamel. -Lead free enamel has an expansion range that is compatible with silver as well as copper. -The obvious health advantage of enamel without lead. -Lead free Transparents do not require an undercoat of clear enamel as frequently as lead bearing do. -Lead free enamels are compatible with lead bearing enamels. -Most any technique that is employed with lead bearing enamel may be used with lead free enamel. -Lead free enamels do not require a "high fire" to improve richness or clarity. -There is more continuity of color gradations from light to dark among the lead free opaque pallet. -Lead free enamel costs less. Using Lead Free and Lead Bearing Enamel on the Same Piece Many people have inquired as to how lead bearing and lead free enamel can be used on the same piece. There are many possible ways to do this. The main thing to remember is that lead bearing enamel should be applied "ON TOP" lead free enamel. Lead free transparent clears 2010, 2020, 2030, and 2040 or lead free opaque whites 1010,1020, 1030, 1040 and 1045 can be used as base coats under lead bearing transparents or opaques. Transparent colors such as 2110 Ivory Beige, 2325 Gem, 2520 Aqua, 2915 Oil Gray or 2680 Prussian Blue are among several lead free enamels which work well when fired directly on copper. These can be used individually or in combination as a background color and then lead bearing opaques or transparents can be fired on top. Another way they can be used together is to wet pack them side by side or stencil them side by side. Of course, in the cloisonné technique, individual cells can be packed with one of the other, in the same piece. Again, if lead free is applied underneath, lead bearing enamel could be fired on top) after firing the lead free) within the same cloisonné cell. Certainly, lead bearing can be applied to one side of a form and lead free on the other side. Now to break the rule implied above, we know of several enamelists who intentionally fire lead free on top of lead bearing. This results in a textural surface which may add interest to a composition.