Question About Enamels & Glass

[Rachel Originals]

Hi Everyone-
I was going to post this in the ceramic section but it doesn't look like people go in there too often.
My aunt used to do ceramics and make enameled copper pendants years ago. Knowing I want to have a glass studio setup someday, she recently gave me a box containing a bunch of supplies, including copper shapes and wire--and I have no clue how to use any of it. She's so busy with having her new place built that I don't want to bother her with this right now. I was in the basement earlier, spotted the box and as I was rifling through it I thought I'd ask here, whether anyone is familiar with this sort of thing.
There's a thing in the box that looks like one of those plastic watercolor containers, with the different colors in each well. It's labelled ceramic and glass enamel or something to that effect. There are also a bunch of baby food jars containing all different colors of a powdery looking substance. Enamel?
There's also something that looks like an archaic kiln....round and metal and about 6-8" with an opening in the front and a place for a plug. NO IDEA what to do with that thing. I need to dig deeper into this box and look for instructions, I think, LOL.
Can ceramic enamels be used on glass? As in, while the bead is being made? Are they compatible? Can anyone suggest some good reading material or websites devoted to this sort of thing?
Thanks in advance for any info...
Rachel

[VickiK]

Hi Rachel, here's the link to some great information regarding enamels.

http://www.sgb-midatlantic.org/how-tos.html#Using Enamels

Somewhere I know I've seen info on painting with enamels, but I'm not sure if this is the place. Anyway, maybe this will give you a starting point.

[misfit]

sounds like copper enamels, a simple enameling kiln and some blanks. is there any copper flux in the lot? -that would probably look like a clear or whitish enamel. if there is then it sounds like you may be golden to do enameling if thats something you are interested in. its almost a guarentee that these are the old high lead enamels. be aware of that before you start. ;)

A.

[JanMD]

Misfit is exactly correct --> what you have there is an old enameling kit, including one of those old scary tabletop kilns.

I have taken a number of enameling classes and am familiar with the whole thing. In a nutshell, you prepare a piece of metal (usually copper, with some fairly sophisticated cleaning and scouring) and carefully sift the powder enamel (what you have in those baby food jars) onto the surface. If the surface is not flat you use a liquid binder to hold the powder in place. Then you put the piece in the kiln and the heat melts the enamel and fuses it to the surface of the metal. There are transparent and opaque colors and you can build up fantastic colors and wonderful depth by layering and firing and layering and firing.

There are a million trillion variations to this scenario, since artists have been enameling since (according to the experts) the thirteenth century BC.

For more, see: http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/directory/library/subject/7/1

Two things to remember right now:
-- If the enamels that you have in those baby food jars are fairly old, they are probably lead-bearing. If you decide to fool around with them, be sure to wear a respirator. If you decide to sell them, you might do well, since lead-bearing enamels are no longer made in the US and some artists claim that the lead-free colors aren't as vibrant.
-- If you decide to play around with using these enamels on your glass beads, remember the respirator but also remember that they are more than likely not compatible with our soft glass. Thompson Enamel makes an entire line of enamels that is compatible. See: http://www.thompsonenamel.com/products/enamels/effetre.htm

If you decide to take up enameling on metal, good for you! It's great fun.

JanMD

[Rachel Originals]

Thank you all, very much, for the info! I KNEW someone here would have a clue! I especially appreciate knowing about the lead content in those enamels. There's not a lot left in the baby food jars (and most of what IS there isn't even labelled). Even with a respirator I think I'd be nervous playing with lead laden powder.
And that kiln! It's a riot! Well, one thing I can say is that my aunt made some really cool looking enamelled copper pendants way back when....I'm guessing 60's & 70's. She used to be really crafty...she'd incorporate a lot of her work into those macrame necklaces. (remember those? does anybody still make those things?)
Thanks again for the help and the info, I appreciate it.
Rachel

[Chuckie]

You can also check out the warmglass.com website. There are several discussions over there about using enamels on glass. There's even someone over there that was experimenting with ceramic enamel colors to see what would happen. Unfortunately, many of the experiments didn't turn out as hoped.

Char

[misfit]

acctually if they are the old thompson line the pre 80's one, they are compatable with the soft glass... the lead content is so high that you can do the exact same thing as you do with frits. but roll the glass through them do not sprinkle them. we are talking incredably high lead content.

A.

[Chuckie]

Lead... I forgot about that guy... our good ol' friend and deadly enemy at the same time...

[misfit]

well the lead content is high enough on that old stuff so that in small amounts you could likely use it on any glass just about. I know people who use it on bulls eye, moretti, satake. in small amounts it doesn't seem to cause any issue. except is HUGE LEAD content.

A.

[JanMD]

Rachel ---- Take enameling classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts(SMFA), Brookline Arts Center, and Metalwerx. All in the Boston area. I am sure there are other places, what with Boston being Boston.

Enjoy!!!

JanMD

[ukiacat]

And that kiln! It's a riot!
Rachel

Hey Now! Don't go laughing at that kiln. :-P If it's an old metal American Handicraft enameling kiln....round metal 6-8" like you said, with a covered element in the center and the plug in part and IF you have the cord and the domed lid that goes with it.....well those are still amazingly useful in enamel work. That's how I started out in jewelry....cloisonne silver and later gold cloisonne work and I did most of it in the little American Handicraft kiln rather than it's big Paragon brother. I have pictures of my work but nothing on the computer so I'm going to attach a picture of an enamel piece made by Marilyn Hunter. I made her name bold so no one thinks I made this wonderful piece. She loves those little round kilns too! \\:D/

22529

[ukiacat]

Also be aware that once enamels have been ground to a mesh [size] that is used for enameling they start breaking down. If they are old and you use them you may find lots of cloudiness. You'll have to wash them before you use them should you change your mind and decide to try them out.

J

[misfit]

we suggest washing enamels before using them to enamel with also. It gives you clearer more vibrant colors... reduces the haze. Not all need washing but when would you rather discover that? after one that does has ruined a peice you've put much labor into or after you've washed some enamel that didn't technically need it?

A.

[JanMD]

Thompson's sells this outrageous table top kiln that is basically two halves of an old dinky aluminum wok, layered inside with plaster, and up on legs. (It's here, the "Dual Temperature Enameling Furnace": http://www.thompsonenamel.com/products/furnaces/index.htm.) The heating element is an electric stove coil embedded in the plaster in the inside bottom of the lid. The "dual temperature" feature is that you fire it up with the plug in for the higher temp and you fire it up with the plug out for the lower temp.

With all due respect for Thompson, it's a major conflagration waiting to happen.

JanMD

[ukiacat]

Thompson's sells this outrageous table top kiln that is basically two halves of an old dinky aluminum wok, layered inside with plaster, and up on legs. (It's here, the "Dual Temperature Enameling Furnace": http://www.thompsonenamel.com/products/furnaces/index.htm.) The heating element is an electric stove coil embedded in the plaster in the inside bottom of the lid. The "dual temperature" feature is that you fire it up with the plug in for the higher temp and you fire it up with the plug out for the lower temp.

With all due respect for Thompson, it's a major conflagration waiting to happen.

JanMD

The hotplate kiln on the website is a "more fancy" version of the little kiln I still use [and prefer over the Paragon for most pieces]. My kiln does not have the protective ceramic base. It's base is expanded mesh and it only has one temperature. As a teenager, I used it on a desk in my bedroom. Scary to think about that 1300F element glowing on a wooden desk. Worse yet, the enamel was all lead-bearing back then. On the other hand, I never really sifted enamel except for the base coat that the cloisonne wires sat on. I would still happily use my little kiln today for enamel projects but I would use it in the studio, on a fireproof base and of course, when it is on, I am right in front of it for the few minutes the piece is firing.
J

[misfit]

just because its a simple enameling kiln doesn't mean its not perfectly designed for the job. after all a hammer is very simple and is just about ideal for its job. same for a frying pan.
its not like an enameling kiln is running for hours and hours. its just a few moments.
never had any complaint about mine...

A.

oh have one now- a complaint that is... its broken. its only 40 years old!! and its stopped working. lazy thing!!