Lampwork Etc.
 
TrueDesign

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat


Frantz Art Glass & Supply

Beads of Courage


 

Go Back   Lampwork Etc. > Library > Tips, Techniques, and Questions

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

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2013-07-18, 9:54pm
truegem's Avatar
truegem truegem is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
Posts: 4,834
Default Enamels

Any advice on working with enamels?
My question is, do they all boil easily? is there a brand that's better as far as boiling?
If not, the only solution is to heat very slowly? I still get divits as a result of boiling, not matter how low I adjust my heat.

Any help would be appreciated.

=)

-Patti
__________________
Patti T.
Fullerton, CA

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2013-07-19, 7:22am
artsyuno's Avatar
artsyuno artsyuno is offline
I'm meeeeelting
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
Default

Yes, they boil easily. If you don't want boiling, work cool (don't let your bead get more than a dark red glow) and don't concentrate the flame in one place for very long.
__________________
Etsy:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Foot Pedal Tutorial:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Kevlar Fingerless Gloves:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2013-07-19, 7:55am
glassactcc's Avatar
glassactcc glassactcc is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 23, 2006
Posts: 5,540
Default

Work far out if you have a strong focused flame. I have a torch that I use for enamels that has a very gentle flame and it works very well. With my other torch, I have to be really careful because the flame is focused and forceful.
__________________
Cynthia

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2013-07-19, 11:23am
Angie09 Angie09 is offline
Angie09
 
Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Posts: 1,788
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by glassactcc View Post
Work far out if you have a strong focused flame. I have a torch that I use for enamels that has a very gentle flame and it works very well. With my other torch, I have to be really careful because the flame is focused and forceful.
May I ask what the torch is that works well with enamel?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2013-07-19, 11:36am
artsyuno's Avatar
artsyuno artsyuno is offline
I'm meeeeelting
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
Default

I have a hot, pinpointy flame and enamels are still totally do-able.
__________________
Etsy:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Foot Pedal Tutorial:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Kevlar Fingerless Gloves:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2013-07-19, 4:58pm
RSimmons's Avatar
RSimmons RSimmons is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2005
Posts: 2,159
Default

The torch doesn't matter, it's how you use it. Work cool and try working under the flame, just brushing the bottom of the flame over the surface of the bead until the enamel looks wet, then you're done. I use only Thompson's for 104 glass.

Robert
__________________
Robert Simmons
(Former) Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2013-07-19, 6:22pm
truegem's Avatar
truegem truegem is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
Posts: 4,834
Default

robert, i hear ya, but i'm dipping a rod tip in the enamel, then using dots that i want to melt in. so it does rekwire a long period of heating. my shift key and my kew key don't work on this computer, that's why i had to put rekwire...phonetics lol
__________________
Patti T.
Fullerton, CA

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2013-07-19, 7:51pm
SGA's Avatar
SGA SGA is offline
Fried Cat
 
Join Date: Jan 02, 2011
Posts: 665
Default

Has anyone used Thompson glass enamels that aren't made for 104?

I know theoretically they probably won't but the glow glass enamel is adaptable to both 33 and 104 so I'm wondering less than 5% maybe?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2013-07-19, 10:50pm
artsyuno's Avatar
artsyuno artsyuno is offline
I'm meeeeelting
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,236
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by truegem View Post
robert, i hear ya, but i'm dipping a rod tip in the enamel, then using dots that i want to melt in. so it does rekwire a long period of heating. my shift key and my kew key don't work on this computer, that's why i had to put rekwire...phonetics lol
You can do it, but you're going to have to go slowly. If you're melting them smooth, I'd probably use a tool to flatten them periodically. It'll help press them into the bead without needing quite so much heat.
__________________
Etsy:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Foot Pedal Tutorial:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Kevlar Fingerless Gloves:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2013-07-20, 5:23am
KJohn's Avatar
KJohn KJohn is offline
Slogan Challenged...
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Posts: 6,273
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SGA View Post
Has anyone used Thompson glass enamels that aren't made for 104?

I know theoretically they probably won't but the glow glass enamel is adaptable to both 33 and 104 so I'm wondering less than 5% maybe?
I wish they would. I have more of that enamel for copper than I know what to do with. It seemed to me that many of the colors burned easily or wanted to make a thick coat. I tried the enamel paint powders, and those looked MUCH better encased.]
__________________
Kristin ~

Facebook:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Etsy:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2013-07-20, 6:53am
RSimmons's Avatar
RSimmons RSimmons is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 01, 2005
Posts: 2,159
Default

Glow glass powder isn't an enamel and has no glass content. that's why you don't run into compatibility issues.

Robert
__________________
Robert Simmons
(Former) Director for Bead Donations
Beads of Courage, Inc.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 2013-07-20, 7:04am
Truewealth's Avatar
Truewealth Truewealth is offline
Growing Edge Glass
 
Join Date: Jul 05, 2008
Posts: 2,539
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by truegem View Post
robert, i hear ya, but i'm dipping a rod tip in the enamel, then using dots that i want to melt in. so it does rekwire a long period of heating. my shift key and my kew key don't work on this computer, that's why i had to put rekwire...phonetics lol

I'm sorry..this is off topic but your post just cracked me up!!!

I remember trying to respond to an Etsy customer, in a convo, with a keyboard from someone else's computer and the "s" and "r" did not work!

Very challenging...anyway....thanks for the laugh Patti!!
__________________
~Mikelene

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
-glass cabochons, clay pendants~~~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
-jewelry~~~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
~~~
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2013-07-20, 7:06am
glassactcc's Avatar
glassactcc glassactcc is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 23, 2006
Posts: 5,540
Default

As Robert stated, you can do it with any torch but, I use my Carlisle Wildcat when working with enamels. It is easier for me as I am working the enamels for a long time while creating the bead so it just makes over heating it less of a problem.

As I stated above, if you have a hot forceful flame, you have to work very cool and farther out in the flame. I make very large pendants with the enamels so I have to make sure I keep my bead hot enough while working it that it doesn't cool too much and crack. It's a juggle and that is why I use the torch that I do for that particular application.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Angie09 View Post
May I ask what the torch is that works well with enamel?
__________________
Cynthia

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2013-07-21, 7:00pm
SGA's Avatar
SGA SGA is offline
Fried Cat
 
Join Date: Jan 02, 2011
Posts: 665
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RSimmons View Post
Glow glass powder isn't an enamel and has no glass content. that's why you don't run into compatibility issues.

Robert
That makes sense then.


For what it's worth in case I confused anyone: Thompson makes an enamel line for stained glass in addition to 104 colors. The stained glass line has several additional shades. They have a COE of 90-96 compatible for Bullseye. This was the line I was curious over with using less than 5% in a bead unencased.

My thinking is that ThatFritGirl sales Loetz frit and it has a lower COE. Many use this successfully.

But Uroborus and Gaffer/Reichenbach also might be good uses for this enamel series.
Thompson 7000 series.

I was not speaking of the copper or silver enamels. I know those are definitely incompatible.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 2013-07-22, 5:40am
Zeke's Avatar
Zeke Zeke is offline
All Zeke, all the time
 
Join Date: Jan 25, 2012
Location: Todd, NC
Posts: 105
Default

Does a metal piece, copper for example, after flame enameling need to be annealed in a kiln?
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 2013-07-22, 2:31pm
SGA's Avatar
SGA SGA is offline
Fried Cat
 
Join Date: Jan 02, 2011
Posts: 665
Default

Not to my knowledge. Gail Moore teaches torch enameling on brass parts.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 2013-07-23, 6:24am
helensharvest's Avatar
helensharvest helensharvest is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 26, 2005
Posts: 1,599
Default

It's the mask that keeps my vast collection of enamels untouched. Can't see, can't breathe...just hate donning darth vader. Tell me it's ok to use paper?
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Before His throne is a sea of glass like crystal.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 2013-07-23, 7:06am
mnoelker's Avatar
mnoelker mnoelker is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 27, 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 1,405
Default

Just to throw in another viewpoint, and I'm admittedly an organic kind of girl, but you might try letting the boiling happen and see what happens. I love the look I get from boiling enamels, but I know it's not that distinct look that you are trying to get.
__________________
Mary
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 2013-07-25, 1:41am
truegem's Avatar
truegem truegem is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
Posts: 4,834
Default

LOL, Mikelene! I'm on a different computer now, so my QQQQQ works!
Anyway, I have boiled the enamel, albeit accidentally. Not the look I'm going for. Too earthy for this style.
QQQqqqQQQQQQqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq qqqqqq lol
__________________
Patti T.
Fullerton, CA

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 2013-08-04, 1:52pm
jaci's Avatar
jaci jaci is offline
Glass-aholic
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2007
Location: CT, tolland CT
Posts: 4,332
Default

I think the copper enamels are about 185 COE . Just throwing it out there
__________________
Minor 10lpm Oxy-Con + HH on Propylene . . . . . .

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
hand dyed silk ribbons in many colors!
WASHERS & TOPPERS - layering components for interchangeable glass topper and to use in other jewelry/metalwork.:
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 8:31am.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 54.224.124.217