How to Enamel Bangles - with Jean Van Brederode

  • Leader
    April 25, 2011 9:56 AM EDT

    I have kiln-enameled hundreds of bangles with nearly 100% success. I was discouraged by past instructors who told me enameling bangles wouldn't work. I'm pretty stubborn and rebellious, but determined! The secret to enameling bangles is to spray  a light mist with klyrfire and sift the enamel on the back and front at the same time, repeat if necessary,then lay the piece flat down on a firing rack. Care must be taken to handle the bracelet only on the edges.

    I have learned how to hold the bangle carefully along the edges, dust the enamel,and gingerly place on the rack. The edges get cleaned in the end, so touching them doesn't matter.

    Normally, I do not wait for the enamel powder to dry. I know, that'S something you're not supposed to do, but it works beautifully for me! It can be re-fired with a new coat of enamel if necessary. The edges can be cleaned up with a wet alundum stone or belt sander or left plain.

    I have experienced little or no chipping. As long as the enamel is not put on too thickly, it stays put nicely in the kiln. Once in a while I get too overzealous with the  enamel powder, and it starts to pool near the bracelet bottom as it fires. In  that case, I pull from the 1500 degree kiln after a minute or so, then flip it  over on the rack so the enamel drifts back toward the middle.

    I have gotten some beautiful effects that way, too! I use 16 gauge copper for plain flat
    bangles and 24 gauge (roofing copper) for the anticlastic ones becuase they are very strong with a synclastic ar anticlastic shape.

    Jean

    http://charmdimsur.etsy.com
    http://enamelwarehouse.etsy.com

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  • Member
    April 25, 2011 11:26 AM EDT

    Jean,

    How do you keep the edges from chipping or cracking as a result of wear?

  • April 25, 2011 6:49 PM EDT

    Hi Tonya - Believe it or not, I have not experienced any chipping or cracking. I usually wear two or three at a time with no damage.

    Jean

  • Member
    April 25, 2011 8:11 PM EDT
    I HAVE AN IDEA ON THE DISCUSSION OF ANY CHIPPING THAT MAY OR COULD HAPPEN, OK IN A JEWELRY STORE IN ST. ARMANDS BEACH IN FLORIDA I SAW A BEAUTIFUL ENAMEL BRACELET. THE STORE OWNER SAID IT WOULD NOT CHIP AND IT HAD BEEN COATED OVER THE TOP WITH A RESIN. NOW THATS NOT A BAD IDEA TO COAT THE SURFACE, NOW WOULD WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS TO DEAL WITH, LIKE EXPANSION, CONTRACTION....PROBLEMS, WITH MOVEMENT FROM THE RESIN. I THINK IT COULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO TRY IT.....THERESA ZACK
  • Leader
    April 25, 2011 9:21 PM EDT

    I would be very leary about adding any chemical compounds to the top of the enamels, as you don't know what damage they could create to the glass over time. If you read the article on the"Meeting of the Minds" I just recently posted, the Museum curators and conservationists are having a difficult time preserving these ancient enamels because they were coated over and preserved with polyurethanes and other preservatives, which have caused major problems to the enamel.

  • Member
    April 26, 2011 7:51 AM EDT
    Thanks, Jean.
  • Member
    April 26, 2011 9:14 AM EDT

    I would still give it a try, it may work wonderful, or may be horrible, but I think its a good experiment.  Old enamels may have been coated with something much different than resins they use now a days that are jewelry grade resins.  It could be a whole different senario on an experiment.   What do we have to loose.  I will give it a try.  There are many issues, yellowing of the resin, pulling of the enamels, expansion issues.  But I have learned many things with experiments.   So when I do some I will upload my results.  Thanks.