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I'm also working with thompson's orient red 1870. I have sifted it thru a 325 mesh screen because i could see darker specks in the enamel.. like the bluer bigger grains in the 80 mesh. does that make sense? I just get a more pure, clean red when i do this. however. when I sift it on the fine silver it clumps because it's so fine. I have tried putting extra thick layers on especially on the first firing to avoid the metal showing thru. are you understanding what I'm describing with the 325 mesh kind of clumping when sifted over binder/Distilled painted fine silver? I've experienced it before with other 325 mesh enamels. so am I doing the right thing just going on thick? I feel wrong because then I have to stone it down pretty far and this shows up when I refire. I can see where it's been stoned down... I have just ordered 150 mesh orient red to play with that and see if it solves my problems. I want to know what you think if you don't mind. also, this may be something I forgot I learned in college (doh!) but is it ok to use a diamond bur on my trivets to clean them? i don't think it's a good idea but i have once again had mixed results and can't get a clear answer on my end.
ANSWER: from Tom Ellis
325 Mesh sifter is much too fine - it is used for painting enamels - your clumping is resulting from the wet base of binder absorbing the fine powder of the enamel. Sift with a 100-200 mesh screen which will prevent the dark glass pieces from falling onto your metal. ALWAYS apply Thompsons 20/20 Flux first under the Red to give you a barrier from the oxides coming up from the metal.
I'm also working with thompson's orient red 1870. I have sifted it thru a 325 mesh screen because i could see darker specks in the enamel.. like the bluer bigger grains in the 80 mesh. does that make sense? I just get a more pure, clean red when i do this. however. when I sift it on the fine silver it clumps because it's so fine. I have tried putting extra thick layers on especially on the first firing to avoid the metal showing thru. are you understanding what I'm describing with the 325 mesh kind of clumping when sifted over binder/Distilled painted fine silver? I've experienced it before with other 325 mesh enamels. so am I doing the right thing just going on thick? I feel wrong because then I have to stone it down pretty far and this shows up when I refire. I can see where it's been stoned down... I have just ordered 150 mesh orient red to play with that and see if it solves my problems. I want to know what you think if you don't mind. also, this may be something I forgot I learned in college (doh!) but is it ok to use a diamond bur on my trivets to clean them? i don't think it's a good idea but i have once again had mixed results and can't get a clear answer on my end.
ANSWER: from Tom Ellis
325 Mesh sifter is much too fine - it is used for painting enamels - your clumping is resulting from the wet base of binder absorbing the fine powder of the enamel. Sift with a 100-200 mesh screen which will prevent the dark glass pieces from falling onto your metal. ALWAYS apply Thompsons 20/20 Flux first under the Red to give you a barrier from the oxides coming up from the metal.