ASK THE EXPERTS » Discussions

• Last Post by M. Quinnan Whittle
  

  July 14, 2015

  I'm wondering why my enamel disintegrated when put in the pickle

  Susan Wade - December 6, 2014 - 6 replies

  Hi, I'm a relative new to enameling, been dabbling for a few years, but have recently been trying to up my game. Problem being, I recently sawed a shape from 18 gauge copper, did everything well as far as I could tell, the enamel melted fine and everythin...
• Last Post by Jeanie Pratt
  

  June 25, 2015

  Opalescent Enamel Tips

  Jeanie Pratt - June 25, 2015 - 0 replies

  I am about to start playing with Japanese leaded opalescent enamels in some cloisonne pieces.  Any tips or suggestions would be welcome from those of you who are familiar with using these enamels.  Thanks!  Jeanie Pratt
• Last Post by Fiona Sands
  

  May 21, 2015

  curving

  Fiona Sands - May 19, 2015 - 11 replies

  Good afternoon
  I am making bird shaped brooches, around 4x6.6mm.  I cut out the shapes from 0.5mm copper, I counter enamel the back first with one coat.. then switch to the front and enamel with 3 or 4 coats.  I am finding that the flat shape is bending...
• Last Post by Anna Margolis
  

  May 10, 2015

  Need advice on diapads grit

  Anna Margolis - May 8, 2015 - 4 replies

  First of all - I found this place to be an amazing source of different tips and advice, I have been looking through different questions for a couple of hours. i Am an artist but have been working with cloissone enamels only for a year and a half or so.
  
  i...
• Last Post by Trish White
  

  April 22, 2015

  Enameling on 10 Karat white gold.

  Gabrielle S Castonguay - April 20, 2015 - 3 replies

  I need to enamel a red transparent on a champlevé piece made of 10k white gold. There is a 12% nickel in the alloy composition of the white gold. Can anyone help me with this? I intend to use lead bearing enamel either Soyer or old Thompson enamel. I have...
• Last Post by Wayne Houston
  

  April 13, 2015

  Thompson 2030 bleeding along cloisonne wire

  Bruce Findley - April 10, 2015 - 4 replies

  High folks,
  just returning to jewellery making after a 15 year break, and have found the unleaded enamels bring a few surprises compared to what I have used in the past. In this particular piece (torch fired) I used Thompson 2030 to secure the wires to a ...
• Last Post by Pam Farren
  

  April 7, 2015

  enameling tiny objects

  Jennifer Hughes - April 5, 2015 - 6 replies

  Hi -
  I'm new here so I hope I'm posting this in the right spot.
  I've been struggling to enamel some tiny pieces. Dots and little hearts about 1/4". Even with the klyr-fire water mix as adhesive, either the enamel falls off or I get way too much on there. ...
• Last Post by Lynette Rosen
  

  April 4, 2015

  cover or laquer for enamel surface

  kai kubja - March 19, 2015 - 5 replies

  how can i cover a drawing on the enamel surface? it is lightly burned into the enamel but not very heat resistant, so i can not use  transparent enamel as last layer.  and sometimes is the drawing not heated, so i need the good trick to protect drawing. d...
• Last Post by Wayne Houston
  

  April 2, 2015

  Selling leaded enamel jewelry

  Cathy Hazel - March 6, 2015 - 4 replies

  Hi -
  I am in California. Can I sell jewelry made with vintage TE enamels? Any idea what the lead level might be - a range... 
  If I participate in an open studios event - do I have to post warnings? Assuming that I would. 
  Thanks!
• Last Post by Trish White
  

  April 2, 2015

  Crackle enamel with a torch.

  Kaleigh H - March 27, 2015 - 2 replies

  Hello! I have been considering purchasing some Thompson crackle enamel because I really like the effect. I was wondering if these are even suitable for torch firing? Without access to a kiln it would be a complete waste if they aren't suitable for torch f...