Transparent Flux (clear) for Silver is different that Transparent Flux (clear) for copper and should be purchased and stored separately. Fire Transparent fluxes on silver only to the correct softening point. DO NOT fire clear flux on sterling or fine silver as hot as you do clear flux on copper. Clear flux fired directly on copper is over-fired only to absorb copper oxides and this technique does not work the same way with silver alloys. (Fire Scale on sterling silver must be depletion gilded before beginning to enamel. Once prepared properly, if not over-fired, it will react with enamel in most cases, like fine silver does.)
ALERT: When working on fine or sterling silver:
ALWAYS fire transparent flux under warm colors (yellow, reds, oranges, pinks and even some purples and lavenders.) Because the glass is slightly alkaline, this creates silver salts when applied over silver and silver alloys. These salts are taken into solution with the glass, which discolors warm colors. If you wish, when working with warm colors, gold foil can be fired beneath them for optimum clarity and brilliance.
TRANSPARENT colors in the cool family (blues, greens grays, turquoises, teals, some purples) are beautiful when fired directly on silver without clear enamel fired underneath.
Make TESTS!
IF STERLING SILVER is over-fired, even after the fine silver has been brought to the surface, brown spots may appear through the transparent colors as the copper oxide is taken into solution with the glass.
(Notes from Linda Darty)
ALERT: When working on fine or sterling silver:
ALWAYS fire transparent flux under warm colors (yellow, reds, oranges, pinks and even some purples and lavenders.) Because the glass is slightly alkaline, this creates silver salts when applied over silver and silver alloys. These salts are taken into solution with the glass, which discolors warm colors. If you wish, when working with warm colors, gold foil can be fired beneath them for optimum clarity and brilliance.
TRANSPARENT colors in the cool family (blues, greens grays, turquoises, teals, some purples) are beautiful when fired directly on silver without clear enamel fired underneath.
Make TESTS!
IF STERLING SILVER is over-fired, even after the fine silver has been brought to the surface, brown spots may appear through the transparent colors as the copper oxide is taken into solution with the glass.
(Notes from Linda Darty)
