Torch Enameling Jewelry Components
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- I came across a book a little while ago that demonstrated torch firing of enamels on brass beads. A fellow classmate at FIT was already doing a version of torch firing enamel and he gave me some materials with which to experiment. I made a few small tests but didn't have a real application until I started work on a tiara with fold formed leaves and flowers. This was a perfect way for me to add color to go along with the gold leaves and black and white pearls.
If you use a heavier gauge metal, you will need a bigger torch, after making this bench top video, I moved on to an acetylene torch and the work went a little faster.
Hi Sage, This is a great video. You could enamel these wonderful little flowers in less than a minute using the immersion process described in "Torch Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire." Just place the flower on a mandrel and spin it in the flame. Dredge it through enamel, Repeat two more times and you're done. The application of enamel will be even and you'll get the backside of the flower enameled at the same time. Love your work!
Since have done full college degree in enameling in the long ago, why do you quench the piece? it will crack, minutely, and since the copper is so bendy from the annealing naturally resulting from torch heat, it will fall off. Later maybe, but it will. It needs to cool naturally, and the reverse side needs 'counter' enamelled also to prevent more cracking. I do like your quick flowers using the notching cutter. Nice work.
Sage, thank you. I have Barbara's book. I thought I read it thoroughly, must have missed something. Thanks to you I believed I ordered the right tool from Amazon. Thank you again for this creative video. I watched it 6 times and forwarded it to some of my favorite students. I'm a certified jewelry instructor with Michaels and I have my own studio in Arlington, Virginia. I'm also taking an enameling class at the Art League in Alexandria, Virginia.
Straight and to the point the only way I understand? 👍🏽
Amazing how delicate these flowers are made from copper and the enameling is perfection. Lovely!! :)
excellent video, man. beautifully explained, clear close-up video, and no annoying sound. I hope you make lots more.
As ever, nicely explained and demonstrated. I hadn't previously known that this type of enameling was possible. Thank you very much.
I do torch fired enamels and would very much like to find a process or product that allows enameling on brass. I understand the problem with brass having so much zinc, etc. but there is so many beautiful brass stampings and beads on the market. . .
Your video is lovely and I've watched it several times. I've just been certified as a teacher by Barbara Lewis and use her method of immersion and torch firing most often.
I haven't used transparent enamels on copper or silver yet. Fire scale is only on sterling silver, on copper it is simply oxidation. Oxidation on the surface of copper may interfere with the the enamels' attachment, you'd have to ask a pro about that. ( Fire scale is when the copper in silver comes to the surface, it can probably happen with other alloys too.)
Read some of the other comments and all I can say it to try it and see. I feel like the GF metal should be fine if it stands up to soldering and tumbling. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
Thanks for watching.
Great little tutorial, and cute flowers! Thanks for sharing!
great video. thanks for posting! love the notch tool too. some folks have pointed out the quenching and the lack of counter enamel. I am interested
An excellent video! Clear, concise and to-the-point. I am a novice enameller and am about to try firing fine silver discs to make earrings. These flowers are exquisite and I'm going to copy them!! :-) Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery . . .
Thanks for watching!
Sage, I would love to buy a pair of those notching tools and have searched for them on the web. I can only find very heavy looking ones but yours look quite fine. Could you let me know who makes yours, please?
Mine are marked Roper Whitney. I don't think they make this model any more, I have only seen 90 degree notchers and they were around $50! I've had these for about 25 years and they weren't much more than sheet metal cutting shears are today. Try looking for old tools at flea markets, good luck.
I'm sure you can, I have done some small brass stamped shapes and the enamel worked there too. Best thing to do is try a few pieces and move on to your main work after you have assessed your successes.
good luck.
Great stuff. You cover things in a way that inspires.
Excellent demo. Great teaching ability!!!
Very cool video and you have a very soothing voice. I believe, though, enameled items are not supposed to be quenched, but rather let cool off and heat up slowly. It creates shock to the glass and it is possible to crack. True?
Iliana I. Very true it can cause " thermal shock"
What a great set up. You are a very good teacher!
Thank you for this video! You are a great instructor!
Thanks for watching. The mylar I used is a plastic sheet that I also use to cut stencils into for some of my metal work. It's a great non-static, stable, translucent material that can be easily drawn upon, cut into and wipes clean for a number of jobs around the studio.
thanks again.
thanks for the great video - you certainly simplified what others made complicated
Excellent Video - Just what I needed for a little confidence to get started!
I get some from Metalliferous on 46th street n NY and you can also order from Rio Grande. Rio has sample sets that are reasonably priced and give you a number of colors with which to play.
In the video I am using 28 gauge copper. I have used 20 and 22 gauge with equal success. It is important to keep the flame below the piece butane will darken the enamel, it may be different with Mapp gas which is what the author of the book I have used uses.
Thank you!!! Nice work with the camera and your way of teaching it
Very easy to listen to, very good directions
Thank you Sage. Excellent video.
thank you for this~i have had an idea to start torch enamelling and this is perfect!
No. Please read the other comments and answers for any other questions.
Thanks for watching.
Brilliant video, really clear step by step. I didn't know you could do this, have been wanting to try enamelling for a while but lacked the kiln! Now I know I don't need it. Thanks again for the great video. Do you have any tips for blending colours e.g disk with red rim blending into white centre?
Nice video, thanks for posting! I particularly like your set-up with the small screen held in the third hand. Gonna try that. Also going to look for some notch cutters, or figure out how to adapt an old tool to work as one - that's genius. One question and one comment - why no counterenamel on the back? Wouldn't that stabilize the enamel on the front of your design, or is it not necessary because you are enameling on the inside of the disc and it is so small? And wouldn't sifting the enamel on to the clear-fyred piece while sitting it on a small platform (the plastic topper of a liter bottle of pop, for example) and then moving the piece to the screen for firing make it easier to keep stray enamel from contaminating your tools and possibly messing up a subsequent piece?
Oh, just thought of something else! Didn't you have a hole drilled in the center of the flower to use later to attach the flowers to something? Don't you need to make sure that isn't covered over by enamel when you fire it? I would normally stick the tip of a toothpick in the hole when I fire the piece if I was using a kiln, but I guess that wouldn't work if you're using a torch - it would catch on fire! So how do you keep that hole clear?
Jeez, one more thing. Can't see your face in the video, so I can't tell if you're wearing one of those inexpensive paper masks to filter particles - the kind you can pick up in any hardware store for next to nothing. Thought it was worth a mention for those trying this for the first time - You should always wear one when sifting enamel - enamel is made up of tiny tiny particles of glass that can easily drift around in the air, and you don't want glass particles ending up in your lungs. Once it's in there, it's in there for good and who knows what kind of havoc it can cause. Stay safe!
Yes the enamel can burn especially the transparent and soft whites. Try to increase the distance between your torch and the sample.
I'm a metal smith and while I haven't done a lot of enameling the principles of basic chemistry (or alchemy) and smithing have to be applied. Enameling is much more successful in some type of oven not w/an open flame. As Elfederlum stated that the torch and flame should not only be farther away from the metal piece also the being extremely careful to not let the flame touch the enamel. The flame/heat in an oven/kiln will not actually touch the enamel pigment Open flames always produce oxidation
Thank you for this video so easy to follow. Could you please let me know where to get the clear Fire, does it have other name? Thanks
Please peruse the comments. I have had three requests this week asking about Klyr fire.
Please look for Metalliferous on 46th street, Try Rio Grande on the web and if all else fails please go to Amazon and Google. the product should be available wherever you buy enamels and enamel equipment.
If you are in NY you can shop at Metalliferous on 46t street. Otherwise look up Rio Grande. they have everything you'll need , I suggest that you buy the sample kits of enamel so you can try a number of colors together. good luck
watch also the Barbara Lewis videos, she's the pro.
Very helpful video! Thank you. But I have a question; if you have to solder this flower on a ring, do you enamel then solder or the opposite ? Thanks
Sage, that video was excellent. Can you tell me, is it possible to enamel on top of brass? Thanks
Bonjour et Merci pour le partage. Pourriez-vous me dire quelle épaisseur fait votre feuille de cuivre à découper ? Et aussi, est-il possible d'émailler les deux faces avec ce procédé et comment puisque la flamme doit éviter le contact de l'émail ... ? Merci.
HI THERE
GREAT video on enameling. I am curious, do you know if you can apply enamel the same way to 14k gf clad?
Thanks
Gabrielle
Where did you get your notching pliers? I can't find any that make that type of cut....
I have had my notch cutter for a long time. Occasionally they turn up on Ebay (and look on Amazon) and they are expensive now. Look for suppliers of sheet metal working tools. I have seen 30 degree and 45 degree cutters from tool makers on line. It is a rare item now. Good luck and thanks for watching.
Thank you so much for this great video. I am just starting and this was very helpful and you presented it well.
Thank you so much... Question.... I thought you would air dry in place of quench. Does quenching shatter the enamel?
Je suis nouveau à l'émaillage. Avec cette méthode, vous ne pouvez émailler un côté. L'auteur de l'ouvrage utilise un chalumeau à gaz Mapp et elle tire des perles dans la ronde en trempant le métal chaud, talon dans la poudre d'émail et de tir à trois reprises.
Le cuivre dans la vidéo est de calibre 22. J'ai utilisé un coupe-disque pour faire le tour et les tondeuses à faire des encoches.
Can enamel burn? I am trying to copy this using leaded semi transparent enamel but the colors never show it just turns black.
You make it looks easy!
hi , was wondering if brass can be used also for enameling ? thanks
What brand of enamel are you using? Or do you think it really matters? I
Thank you,sir!
This has been VERY helpful, thank you!
Thanks for the video. Where can I find this "clear fire" liquid? What is it exactly. Thank you!
Klyr-fire is a brand name of a product made by Thompson Enamel. I got mine at Metalliferous in NY. If not there try TRio Grande.
Thanks for watching!
Very helpful! Thank you.
Grazie per i consigli e idee
Look on Amazon, I found a few there a couple months ago. , It's a sheet metal tool and it is called a notch cutter. I've seen 30 degrees like mine and a 45 which wouldn't be as useful. I've had mine for about 20 years ( ! ? ) and didn't pay much for it, they're pricey now. try EBay too. Book: Barbara Lewis. she has videos on YT, Torch fFired Enamel Jewelry. Read some of the other comments here too. Good luck and Have fun, Sage
Also.... do you have a good supplier for enamel supplies?
Also - what is the name of the book you refer to?
Could you tell me what brand or model the pliers are?
Question. How many times can you coat the some item, and with different color.
+Louis Barbisan I am still new to this and all I can say is try out any of your ideas. Two layers is not difficult. They can be different colors. It will also depend on final use, how much you build up, and gauge of the metal. The way I am using the enamel is only to give color to small pieces as accents. I would view some other enamel videos and experiment. Have fun and don't rush...
Does the quench cause the enamel to crack?
I was looking for Julian Clarey and you popped up Sage...?
It's a mystery... Thanks for watching.
oops, in findiing out if you have had any long term problems with cracking or chipping as can happen with the lack of counter enamel and the use of quenching. thanks!
Hi. May you upload a tutorial for the spinners. Txs
Where do you get sheets of copper?
so the flame touching the enamel or getting it too hot is by nature going to cause the enamel to oxidize to one degree or another especially based on the color of the enamel. As everyone knows the enamels like ceramic glazes are nothing more than different minerals combined to make a specific color and/or finish. I know that's really basic but if we don't apply the basic we get failed pieces Also most enameling in an oven only needs low temps torches give really high temps... Just sayin'
will U marry me??? any man with the patience (& eye for beauty) to do this is a NUMBER 1 catch!!!!!! Beautiful & INTERESTING work -- the possibilities for this are ENDLESS even for abstract pieces using plain washers and watch parts - I just LOVE THIS & terrified as I am of fire (me & my beloved dogs were the ONLY thing that survived a devastating house fire in 2010) I may just HAVE to "get over it" & try this - thank u so very much for sharing!!! oh & where DO u get the enamel -hardware craft?
I don't think it matters.
Please peruse the comments. I have had three requests this week asking about Klyr fire.
Please look for Metalliferous on 46th street, Try Rio Grande on the web and if all else fails please go to Amazon and Google. the product should be available wherever you buy enamels and enamel equipment.
Where do you get sheets of copper?