Jean Abriel asks:
I'd like some advice on getting the best transparent coats of enamel on both copper and silver with Ninomiya and Soyer enamels. I'm using Soyer #3 and #1 flux. Should I be sifting these fluxes and washing them too. Sifted to 150 mesh and I think it might have actually caused a problem as there is a bubbly or bumpy effect in the fired flux coat.
I've sifted the colors to either 150 or 200 mesh before washing and this appears to have had a beneficial effect. Appreciate any comments....
You do not have to wash your fluxes before sifting because then you would have to wait for them to dry thoroughly before sifting - and you would never get any work done - I don't use Soyer products but I do use Ninomiya flux and I always sift directly on silver. Your bumpy issue could be a result of not drying your klyr fire and sifted enamels enough before placing in the kiln. The moisture causes air bubbles thus the bumpy effect. Place your wet piece on top of the kiln and allow it to dry thoroughly then go into the kiln.
If you wash your enamels and rinse several times you don't need to sift them down, as the washing removes all the impurities after each rinsing. Washing enamels is usually done when you do wet packing and sifting down a few meshes is usually done if you are going to sift all your work.
It depends if I am doing cloisonné or champlevé - With the cloisonné technique I spray a bit of klyr fire onto the metal then sift a nice layer of flux on then fire - then glue on the wires and retire - then go about wet packing - For the Champlevé method - I already have the cells acid etched in - so I wet pack a flux on the metal (copper or sterling silver) If you use Fine Silver, you don't need to use flux under a transparent color.
