I would like to share what I have been working on for over a year now. I am a bladesmith when I am not doing the academic thing. When I decided to use enamel in my knives I wanted to try and do it in my gas forge. I have a kiln but after 30 years as a smith the forge seemed the tool. This is all trial and error so I am sure this is not the only way to do it. I had a few problems with early pieces. Then I decided to try fusing the enamel with the forge (gas and air blower) turned off. The inside of my forge was brought up to a high heat and held at that temp until I knew the walls/lining of the forge would radiate the heat that I needed. With the forge turned off I place my pieces in the forge and actually watch the enamel melt and fuse to the metal. This basically gave me a neutral or slightly oxidizing atmosphere. So far this has proved very successful for me. The inside of my forge is about 18 inches deep by 8 inches in diameter. The forge will reach 2600 F in about 30 minutes but I can control the heat. I have a 3 x 4 opening. I mechanically made a few stainless spatulas and tines on 3 ft rods. These hold my pieces including those that are 3D and need to be rotated. I have used a torch to fire enamel but this seems to work better for me. It also means that I can enamel some moderately large pieces. Of course the largest I personally have attempted was 3 inches wide by 11 inches long. I am still a neophyte with enamel but I hope to improve with practice. I just thought this was variation on torch firing and probably shares some of the same issues.
Thanks for letting me share.
I would like to share what I have been working on for over a year now. I am a bladesmith when I am not doing the academic thing. When I decided to use enamel in my knives I wanted to try and do it in my gas forge. I have a kiln but after 30 years as a smith the forge seemed the tool. This is all trial and error so I am sure this is not the only way to do it. I had a few problems with early pieces. Then I decided to try fusing the enamel with the forge (gas and air blower) turned off. The inside of my forge was brought up to a high heat and held at that temp until I knew the walls/lining of the forge would radiate the heat that I needed. With the forge turned off I place my pieces in the forge and actually watch the enamel melt and fuse to the metal. This basically gave me a neutral or slightly oxidizing atmosphere. So far this has proved very successful for me. The inside of my forge is about 18 inches deep by 8 inches in diameter. The forge will reach 2600 F in about 30 minutes but I can control the heat. I have a 3 x 4 opening. I mechanically made a few stainless spatulas and tines on 3 ft rods. These hold my pieces including those that are 3D and need to be rotated. I have used a torch to fire enamel but this seems to work better for me. It also means that I can enamel some moderately large pieces. Of course the largest I personally have attempted was 3 inches wide by 11 inches long. I am still a neophyte with enamel but I hope to improve with practice. I just thought this was variation on torch firing and probably shares some of the same issues.
Thanks for letting me share.