I am new to both this forum and enameling, and I'm starting out with Schauer enamels. As I'm preparing to dive in, may I trouble those of you who use Schauer enamels with a few questions?

I notice that Thompson enamel has a silver flux. Is one of the Schauer fluxes intended for silver? Or can I use any of the fluxes on both silver and copper? What is the purpose of the Bluish Flux?

I also notice there are several Schauer opaque whites (and duplicates of several other colors), but the Schauer web site doesn't mention the differences between them. Does anyone happen to know the properties of the various whites, or what I am missing in regard to why there are duplicates of several colors?

I have invented several theories in my head to address these questions, but I thought reality and actual experience might trump my invented answers. Many thanks! This is an inspiring forum.

Hello

All of the flux products can be used on copper and silver.  There are only 2 that can't be used on gold.  But who works on gold these days (except for gold foil).  In the Rio Grande catalog from last year there is a chart that tells you the use on what metals and the general melt point- S,M, H.  Not sure about the bluish flux specific use.  I assume for use under cool color only.  I have flux 100 and 175.  175 fires very yellow.  100 fires slightly yellowish.  This does affect the transparent color you put over it slightly.  

Can't help much with the whites.....except, just like in paint, there are many shades of white.  It just depends on what you are looking for or what temp. you want to fire at.

Best of luck with your new passion.

Supplement to Sondras thread

The difference between the enamels of the same color is the melting point. You can see it in the  third column.  the figure 1 means soft melting point ~ 720 degree C, 2 = medium ~770 degree C and 3 = hard ~800 degree C. The figure 202 white is an universal enamel. It is the enamel you can use for the most projects.
The same principle applies for the fluxes. Here are additional little differences in the colors. Nr. 1W is an universal flux. The bluish flux is special for Silver. If you use one of the other fluxes on silver the color can turn over to light yellow. The bluish color lets the flux looks silver-clear.
Here:

http://www.emaille-hiller.de/download/Farbmuster.pdf

you can download the original Schauer color chart.

Thank you, Sondra. I should be getting a Rio Grande replacement catalog soon so that I can look up the chart you mentioned. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with the fluxes and taking time to answer a newb. :)

Thanks so much, Edmund. I have been looking for just that sort of chart; thank you for providing the link! I should have mentioned that I did have the hardness information for the fluxes, but I definitely did not have the additional information that you provided or that was on the color chart. I have downloaded and printed it for reference.

I'm still a bit baffled about such things as the existence of three golden yellows that all seem to have the same hardness and metal compatibility, but I'm sure there is a reason for this that will reveal itself with experience. Again, much thanks. :)

In addition to Edmund's explanation: In the chart both whites 201 and 202 seem to have the same hardness ( 2 ). According to e-mail info by the Hiller firm the 202 has a melting temp. at 730 °C and the 201 at 770 °C.Sometimes good to know!

Gabor

Thank you, Gabor. That is valuable information, and I have made a note of it. I can see how experience and practice are both very important in this art.

Thank you Edmund. :-)

Super porady Edmund. Bardzo dziękuję za te wiadomości.

Jestem początkującym  i pracuję na emalii Schauer. Bardzo dziękuję.

Dziękuję Gabor za cenne wiadomości.

Pozdrawiam Leszek.

translate :

Super advice Edmund. Thank you for the message.

I am a beginner and I'm working on enamel Schauer. Thank you very much.

Gabor Thank you for your valuable messages.

Yours Leszek.