Hi -

I'm new here so I hope I'm posting this in the right spot.

I've been struggling to enamel some tiny pieces. Dots and little hearts about 1/4". Even with the klyr-fire water mix as adhesive, either the enamel falls off or I get way too much on there. It's hard enough just trying to clean the tiny things. Am I being unrealistic or is there some other way of doing this?

To fire, I've put them on a little piece of thin fire sheet on a rack (kiln fire). They're too small for a trivet.

Hi Jennifer, 

Assuming your metal is clean and you're allowing your pieces to dry before firing you might try not diluting the klyr-fire which would be significantly more sticky and dusting your enamels with a finer mesh screen which would apply a finer layer of enamel. 

Hope this helps : )

I don't work small, but at times I find that trivets, and screens also heat higher than I would like. What you might try is place your work on a firebrick. Fire brick is made to absorb heat. The brick be cooler than the steel plate. You can cut the brick to the size you need. This is just a thought . Good luck. 

On the small details lavender oil can be applied.

-

You have two options to try - 

   If I can't hold the object on my finger to sift, then I find a small object like a cork or lid, to sit it on while sifting - you might also consider chopsticks or an open tweezer then slide the enamel piece onto the spatula while it is still wet. Push with another pointed object gently to get it on the kiln cloth. Sift your first coat very lightly with a very small sifter - and just enough so that you don't see the metal- You can always go back for a second sifting after it has been fired - 

Second option: wet pack the objects - in a small spoon mix the enamel with a little water and a drop of klyr fire - enough that you can pick it up with a small dental tool or brush and lay it on the object then gently tap in place- dry and fire -

Its a very frustrating process with small objects.

Thanks to all of you for your advice. It's much appreciated. I will try some of these and then stay away from the tiniest pieces when possible ;)

If you are screenig your enamels you should try using the enamels 150 mesh and smaller. Additionally, if you have any Blue Stic (glue) you can thin it with water, paint it on and use your sifting technique to apply the previously sifted enamel.
I have also read that you can use Elmer's white glue (thinned with water) but I have not tried it.