enamelling question

[Islets1]

I want to make a series of disc beads and then use a template to make a postitive (sheet with figure cut out) and negative (cut out area) figure with enamel. Should the beads be annealed first or should you cookin the enamel and drop to the annealing temp. The beads will be room temperature when I apply the enamel as I am not skilled enough to do them hot and would probably ruin my cutouts. What temperature and how long should you use to fuse the enamel? I will use powder enamel. Any help or advice is most welcome.

[Chuckie]

If you don't anneal them when you first make them, you have a higher risk of losing your beads to thermal cracking when you ramp up to fire the enamels on.

[SteveWright]

The enamels that I use require temperatures near 1500F to fuse to glass. So this will create some serious technical issues with your plans. Getting the beads hot enough for enamels will cause slumping.

You might want to look at some of the low fire glass paints.

Steve