February 22, 2010 2:21 PM EST
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This question came up in another discussion or post on this site - I thought maybe I'd add it here too as it is on the "Pin Hole" subject.
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Sometimes people have trouble with pin hole bubbles and after burring out and re-filing and re-firing there is still a "Shadow of the Repair" or "Ghosts Of Bubbles Passed"<grin> It can happen to all and any of us. I recently answered a simular post the enamelforum and now today a post on this site in another area a lot of the info. applies to to pin hole re-files - so I am adding it below.
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I don't know if there is a definitive way to burr and re-fire that is sure to repair the pin hole problem with no "Shadow Patch" or "Ghost" of the repair and to have it always work 100 %. Enamel just seems to be a bit fussier than that - sometimes my Re-fills & Re-fires work and sometimes they do leave a "Ghost."
Â
Some things to consider to help rule many problems include:
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Shadowns of Pin Hole repairs may have to do with the burr used, how clean the burr is. MAKE SURE that there is no burr lubricant on it and no residual metal dust, no oxidation etc... Also the type of burr may matter. Maybe a diamond burr is better than a stone burr which could possibly loose fine grit into the glass hole and cause discoloration. Consider how clean and especially how DRY you can get it the pit/burred out hole before re-firing. Make sure that the enamel in the hole was COMPLETELY DRY before firing so as not to cause any devirtrifcation. Also what color is being re-fired into the hole may make a difference.
Â
Maybe a few or those things will narrow the possibility of problems of Repair "Shadows" or Repair "Ghosts"
Â
I often spit into my pits after I burr them and clean well with a clean fine paint brush and water and then a clean glass brush ( I know... spit? yuck ! <grin>) but your saliva has a mild acid to it and it can remove the oil from your fingers... (make sure you didn't just eat or drink something though!) Just one of my tricks.
Â
It's hard to say for sure why some repairs work perfectly and some sometimes leave "ghosts."
Â
Anyway try some of these fixes.
Â
Use a VERY CLEAN (FREE FROM ANY BURR WAX OR LUBRICANT) small diamond burr and a little water - slowly burr out the worse of the pit or any scum in the enamel.
Â
Re-clean and re-dry well.
Â
Re-fill with the same colors - and re-fire maybe a couple of fills and firings.
Or re-fill with complementary colors and get a speckled effect - maybe that will look cooler then the repair ghost shadow patch.
Â
Re-stone a little re-flash fire.
Â
Or if to much ghosts or shadows or pit or muck that won't fill well.
Â
Again - Use a CLEAN (as per above recommendations) small diamond burr and a little water - slowly burr out the worse of it.
Â
Make some small 24 kt. gold balls by heating 24 kt gold cloisonne wire up with a torch or in the kiln (over 1600 d. f.till they ball up)
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Clean & Dry well.
Â
Put gold balls in holes and fire them in.
Â
Either make the balls big enough to be bubbling above the surface and leave - or sand and have them be flat gold circles. Or make small enough to drop down into the holes and fire clear enamel over them.
Â
If way way way to many pits repaired or to much muck or ghosts or shadows of repairs :
Â
Then consider cutting snips of 24 kt gold foil and covering them and firing them all over the surface in that chamber/area to add visual interest.
Â
Which ever way you choose you will most likely save the piece and possibly create the beginnings of a new technique/style to your enamel items.
Â
I have had to "Recover" many a piece in my time <Big Grin> thusly "Learning" Many new techniques!
Â
If you feel that none of those will work - then consider crafting a setting that will have an element going over that area with the repair "Shadow"
Â
A burr can be so useful if there are only a few dirty bits or air bubble pits - don't sand the whole surface down - just get the goop out - fill and fire - or grind a top layer off in the area and then in and fill and fire - but you should be aware that sometimes the grind and re-fire can leave a "ghost" of it's self - that is why often I suggested the balls of gold or some gold foil to cover the grind spot a little bit.
Â
Hope this is of some use.
Sharon Scalise
Â
This question came up in another discussion or post on this site - I thought maybe I'd add it here too as it is on the "Pin Hole" subject.
Â
Sometimes people have trouble with pin hole bubbles and after burring out and re-filing and re-firing there is still a "Shadow of the Repair" or "Ghosts Of Bubbles Passed"<grin> It can happen to all and any of us. I recently answered a simular post the enamelforum and now today a post on this site in another area a lot of the info. applies to to pin hole re-files - so I am adding it below.
Â
I don't know if there is a definitive way to burr and re-fire that is sure to repair the pin hole problem with no "Shadow Patch" or "Ghost" of the repair and to have it always work 100 %. Enamel just seems to be a bit fussier than that - sometimes my Re-fills & Re-fires work and sometimes they do leave a "Ghost."
Â
Some things to consider to help rule many problems include:
Â
Shadowns of Pin Hole repairs may have to do with the burr used, how clean the burr is. MAKE SURE that there is no burr lubricant on it and no residual metal dust, no oxidation etc... Also the type of burr may matter. Maybe a diamond burr is better than a stone burr which could possibly loose fine grit into the glass hole and cause discoloration. Consider how clean and especially how DRY you can get it the pit/burred out hole before re-firing. Make sure that the enamel in the hole was COMPLETELY DRY before firing so as not to cause any devirtrifcation. Also what color is being re-fired into the hole may make a difference.
Â
Maybe a few or those things will narrow the possibility of problems of Repair "Shadows" or Repair "Ghosts"
Â
I often spit into my pits after I burr them and clean well with a clean fine paint brush and water and then a clean glass brush ( I know... spit? yuck ! <grin>) but your saliva has a mild acid to it and it can remove the oil from your fingers... (make sure you didn't just eat or drink something though!) Just one of my tricks.
Â
It's hard to say for sure why some repairs work perfectly and some sometimes leave "ghosts."
Â
Anyway try some of these fixes.
Â
Use a VERY CLEAN (FREE FROM ANY BURR WAX OR LUBRICANT) small diamond burr and a little water - slowly burr out the worse of the pit or any scum in the enamel.
Â
Re-clean and re-dry well.
Â
Re-fill with the same colors - and re-fire maybe a couple of fills and firings.
Or re-fill with complementary colors and get a speckled effect - maybe that will look cooler then the repair ghost shadow patch.
Â
Re-stone a little re-flash fire.
Â
Or if to much ghosts or shadows or pit or muck that won't fill well.
Â
Again - Use a CLEAN (as per above recommendations) small diamond burr and a little water - slowly burr out the worse of it.
Â
Make some small 24 kt. gold balls by heating 24 kt gold cloisonne wire up with a torch or in the kiln (over 1600 d. f.till they ball up)
Â
Clean & Dry well.
Â
Put gold balls in holes and fire them in.
Â
Either make the balls big enough to be bubbling above the surface and leave - or sand and have them be flat gold circles. Or make small enough to drop down into the holes and fire clear enamel over them.
Â
If way way way to many pits repaired or to much muck or ghosts or shadows of repairs :
Â
Then consider cutting snips of 24 kt gold foil and covering them and firing them all over the surface in that chamber/area to add visual interest.
Â
Which ever way you choose you will most likely save the piece and possibly create the beginnings of a new technique/style to your enamel items.
Â
I have had to "Recover" many a piece in my time <Big Grin> thusly "Learning" Many new techniques!
Â
If you feel that none of those will work - then consider crafting a setting that will have an element going over that area with the repair "Shadow"
Â
A burr can be so useful if there are only a few dirty bits or air bubble pits - don't sand the whole surface down - just get the goop out - fill and fire - or grind a top layer off in the area and then in and fill and fire - but you should be aware that sometimes the grind and re-fire can leave a "ghost" of it's self - that is why often I suggested the balls of gold or some gold foil to cover the grind spot a little bit.
Â
Hope this is of some use.
Sharon Scalise
