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Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips

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  #1  
Old 2012-03-02, 4:58pm
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Default Enamel Questions

I finally broke down and purchased some enamel- I love the colors and some of them are perfect for the colors I would like to incorporate in my latest beads.

However, I am a little perplexed on the best way to use them- I got a sifter but it seems that the glass is not very intense and does not look like any beads I have seen made with enamel.

So what is the best way to get those yummy colors?? Do you roll your bead in it? Sift it? Thank you for helping a oldie enamel newbie out
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  #2  
Old 2012-03-02, 5:37pm
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please consider wearing a mask, it's best not to breathe in any of the glass powders. That being said, i think there are many ways to use it.

here is a couple of ways I've used it, I'm sure there are many more methods to try

sift over hot glass to add a thin layer of color, you can build it up (make it thicker) by sifting more. This way provides a lot of control over how much is applied.

roll a hot gather of glass in it and make a stringer - thanks to an LE member there are more info and pics here:
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=70638

have fun
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  #3  
Old 2012-03-02, 5:57pm
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Elizabeth- you made me chuckle!! You should see the gas mask I wear when I tried these out for the first time LOL I am scared to death of breathing in glass particles!!!

Thank you for the tips and for the link I am off rubbing my hands together eagerly!!!
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  #4  
Old 2012-03-02, 6:43pm
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I mix colors for special effects. You can also dilute the pure color by mixing it with white. I use a lot of white in my mixes.

Robert
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Old 2012-03-02, 6:44pm
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Check out bearfootart.com

He has the coolest frit and enamel vibe system that lets you apply it all sorts of ways. There's a video to watch because Scott can explain it WAY better than I can!

Beth
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  #6  
Old 2012-03-02, 6:57pm
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It may not be the reason for your color variation, but it took me forever to figure out that some of the colors are transparent and not opaque. I think the Thompson enamels starting with 94 are the transparent ones.
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Old 2012-03-02, 7:12pm
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The Vibe works really well - I haven't used it a lot but really liked the control it gives.

Quote:
Originally Posted by flamingobeth View Post
Check out bearfootart.com

He has the coolest frit and enamel vibe system that lets you apply it all sorts of ways. There's a video to watch because Scott can explain it WAY better than I can!

Beth
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  #8  
Old 2012-03-02, 8:34pm
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I never use my vibe. I should sell it. Michelle, I use 3 coats, on the average, if I want fairly intense coverage. If I'm making enamel stringer I use even more coats.
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  #9  
Old 2012-03-03, 8:24am
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WOW okay so much to go with now!!! I love being able to mix colors having got my start in painting many years ago it was a concept I felt very comfortable with!!! Thank you Robert for that info!!!

Beth & Beth (giggle) I will head over to check out the vibe!! And I may just have started with a transparent it is called Gem Green and does start with 94!!! WOW do you know how long that would have taken me to figure out!!!!!

Artsy- thank you for the honest advice! I am glad to get all the help I can! I will be trying to make enameled stringers today with the deep orchid I have and then mastering sifting over the bead!
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  #10  
Old 2012-03-03, 8:30am
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Try the cherry pink, too. It's transparent and takes a ton of coats, but it's a beautiful color. Yes, those starting with 94 are transparent. The rest are opaque.
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  #11  
Old 2012-03-04, 8:59am
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YUMMMM Cherry Pink sounds heavenly! It seems like it would be a great color to use with sunsets/sunrises
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  #12  
Old 2012-03-04, 9:00am
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Now where is your favorite place to buy enamels price/speed of shipping???
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  #13  
Old 2012-03-04, 4:55pm
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Here is a chart of the colors on beads and the transparent colors are towards the bottom.

http://www.listen-up.org/kitty/beads...r%20chart2.htm
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Old 2012-03-04, 5:09pm
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I roll in a deep measuring spoon, 2 or three times. I don't like to sift, because it puts more particles into the air, and I don't wear a mask...but that's just me. I'd make a lousy surgeon, because the mask makes me claustrophobic. What a weenie!
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  #15  
Old 2012-03-04, 6:01pm
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I get mine here: http://www.wholelottawhimsy.com/wo/c...alog?c=2241219

I like that they come in jars, not baggies, and I was happy with the price and turnaround time.
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  #16  
Old 2012-03-04, 8:13pm
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Kay- THANK YOU!!! !!! WOW some of those colors are simply scrummy!!!

Melodie- Thank you so much for that tip- I don't mind wearing a mask but I love the spoon idea! It also must make it very easy to get the enamel back into a container!!!

Elizabeth- Thank you so much for the resource and I do agree jars are definitely what I am looking for!

You guys have been so good!! Thank you so much!
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  #17  
Old 2012-03-06, 4:27am
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Hey Michelle, I'm just starting with enamels myself. I tried it once many years ago and hated it back then. I've changed. lol ! I am loving it now. Anyway, here's a picture of what I use when I roll my beads in the powder. As you can see it comes in 3 sizes, is a set and they're CHEAP. They work REALLY well too. Then it's so simple to just dump what's left back into the jar/container. I got 2 sets at Walmart some time ago. I'm sure they still have them.



Click on this link http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/p...260,47776&ap=1 to go to the place I bought the containers I put the enamels in. I got them in the baggies and needed to buy the containers. I asked in another thread and this is where someone led me. I got the next to the biggest size and I think I needed the biggest size but they work fine. The ones I got will hold one ounce.

I bought a sample set of enamels from Frantz which gave me all the colors available then bought bigger bags of the enamels from http://www.howacoglass.com/enamel_thompson.html I'm all set and having too much fun !

I also have the power vibe coming from Bearfoot. I LOVE Monica and Scott, Scott's tools and their customer service. They are THE BEST to deal with. I was one of the first 10 people to buy one of his EMS off Ebay back in the day when people put him down for building that. Yeah, imagine that. lol ! Anyway, I am anxious to get the vibe and play. I ordered his newest version of the vibe.
I have the original red sifter and am not crazy about it at all. I did buy 2 of JC's tools that Arrow Springs developed - the 60 mesh sifter size 11 and the medium line and dot applicater. I haven't tried them yet but plan to this week I hope. If you go to Arrow Springs website, they are on the Home page, just scroll down a bit.

Personally, right now, I love the look of rolling the beads to get full color. These colors are very intense to be sure ! I say, just play and have fun ! See what it is you love to do with them.
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  #18  
Old 2012-03-06, 5:07am
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I made a color chart with the Thompson enamels: http://www.miriamsteger.com/blog/kle...mpson-enamels/
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Old 2012-03-07, 9:06am
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I'm just starting with enamels myself. Took a two day class w/ JC Herrill which was great. One of the tips she gave us was to work over a pan of water. You can use those cheap aluminum ones from the grocery store. That way, when you sift, any loose particles go in the water and stay there. She also said wash your hands when you finish working. The other good tip was to use one more coat than you think is enough.
I just got my stash from Thompson and am really enjoying them. Have fun.
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Old 2012-03-07, 9:57am
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Welcome to the wonderful world of enamels! Glad you've taken the plunge...

I use several different kinds of enamels often. In the flame, I stick to Thompson Opaque enamels- they have fantastic color saturation. I use in stringers (as someone has already described), sifted, and directly rolled...

Play around with layering and varying the amounts of heat you subject the enamel to. Burning it a little can create really neat texture. (second photo, all but one of those pendants are made with Thompson enamels, the other is with a Reichenbach powder, iris orange, pretty sure. All have been burned/ fizzled, and then stretched to get those textures)

Likewise, I often use enamel to 'backfill' (check out the base of the beetle bead pic below)- carve grooves into a bead, and let the bead cool a bit. Then I sift enamels over the bead, and wipe away (using a wet cotton towel) all of the excess. I wear a mask, and do this over a water bath to cut down on the respiratory risk... but it's worth it. This is a great thing to do with leather stamps.

JC and I wrote a series of articles for the Flow Mag (starting winter, 2008, and going into 2009)- was a 4 part run- all on how we each use enamels.
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Old 2012-03-07, 11:26am
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Margaret,your work is so good,thank you for sharing your tips.
Love the busy beetles.

Karen
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  #22  
Old 2012-03-07, 12:43pm
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So how in the heck can I have every issue of The Flow EXCEPT for the Winter 2008 issue? I just got it though and I'm going to have a whole lot of fun putting the pieces together. You can get the back issues here if you're interested:
https://www.theflowmagazine.com/inde...art&Itemid=129
I got mine as a digital download (PDF), but they also come in print or CD.

And if I had the bucks to spare, I'd also get one of Margaret's butterflies. OMG, they took my breath away.
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Old 2012-03-07, 12:54pm
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aww, thanks. (blush) I'll be making these butterflies for a good while longer, so one can come to you when the time is right.

Kay- the third or fourth article ended up with some odd edits and a few steps/ photos got mixed up. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about those (or any of the others) if it doesn't make sense.
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Old 2012-03-07, 1:57pm
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Will do. I think what I'll end up doing is putting all the enamel articles from the 4 issues together into one PDF and put it on my iPad for easy reference.
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Old 2012-03-07, 2:02pm
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I just ordered all four issues. Digital. Putting all of the articles into one PDF is a great idea Kay.
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Old 2012-03-08, 4:03am
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Margaret, I just looked at all articles you and JC wrote and they are really wonderful ! I cannot wait to play using your techniques ! Just fabulous stuff. So glad I bought all four issues.
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Old 2012-03-08, 3:13pm
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Margaret- WOW you are a true wealth of information! I will definitely get those copies digitally so that I can start to learn from the enamel masters!!! I need to pay more attention to your class schedule here in the states!!! PS those beetles are amazing and that background is SWEET! Love the pendants too!!

Peggy- please post pics of the beads you make!!! I would love to see them!

Debbie- you also have been a great source of info thank you so much for taking the time to give me such great tips! I have only a few colors right now but will be getting some more next week- I really want to see if I can get the gorgeous candy colors for some ideas I have for line art beads.

Miriam- thank you so much for the color chart link- I love drooling over all the gorgeous shades!!!
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  #28  
Old 2012-03-08, 3:46pm
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okay question what is a vitreous enamel???
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Old 2012-03-09, 1:06pm
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Hi Michelle,
My enamel beads are fairly primitive. (The enameling looks okay, but I still am working on making the ends pretty and my stringer work is barbaric compared to JC's. But I'll try to take some pictures this weekend. I'm a real beginner at it, but maybe you'd like to see some newbie work with it. My enamels arrived and then my DH had to have hip replacement surgery so I've been a little too busy to be in the studio this week. He comes home today, and I hope to have some studio time in the next few days.
Peggy
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Old 2012-03-12, 8:37am
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Peggy I will be praying for your hubby!!! I would love pictures!!! I am struggling cuz the enamel seems to react with a lot of colors or maybe it is just me! Who knows but I ruined 5 beads already!!! I basically wanted one look and got stuck with a totally different look YIKES!
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