Thank you for this very helpful video! I just took an introductory class on enameling (using dry-shifting and stencils), but this technique is more what I am interested in working with long term
Another way to avoid pickle is to coat the whole piece with a very very thin layer of flux and then stone it away at the very end. This method is very time consuming and demands a hand finish. I don't usually do it as it would make the pieces too expensive.
Yes I pickle between each firing - I use Sparex#2 cold. There are metal oxides in enamels which will be affected by the pickle if you leave it in too long, or if it is hot. Always use a cold pickle for enamel. Firing times are also crucial - the less time= less firescale = less time in the pickle. A very hot kiln will produce faster results - but then you have danger of burnout so extreme care must be taken. I mostly use leaded Soyer French enamels. I test for acid sensitivity before using
sorry,I posted before I'd watched the whole video!Which pickle are you using and are the enamels leaded? I've had problems with pickle negatively effecting the enamel-sometimes straight away and sometimes after the next firing.I have just read that safety pickle is never good with enamels,so was wondering whether sulphuric is ok?Would really appreciate your comments on this,it would be SO much easier to be able to clean multiple pieces in pickle each time!
between each coat/firing, how are you cleaning the copper (particularly the raised areas)? Are you pickling it? or scrubbing it? How do you avoid any black scale specks!!? :)
Thankyou very much for taking the time to do a demo video.
Thank you for this very helpful video! I just took an introductory class on enameling (using dry-shifting and stencils), but this technique is more what I am interested in working with long term
transjade 3 months ago
You are welcome!
imagocorvi 10 months ago
Thank you for posting this informative video.
sciopio 10 months ago
Another way to avoid pickle is to coat the whole piece with a very very thin layer of flux and then stone it away at the very end. This method is very time consuming and demands a hand finish. I don't usually do it as it would make the pieces too expensive.
imagocorvi 10 months ago
Yes I pickle between each firing - I use Sparex#2 cold. There are metal oxides in enamels which will be affected by the pickle if you leave it in too long, or if it is hot. Always use a cold pickle for enamel. Firing times are also crucial - the less time= less firescale = less time in the pickle. A very hot kiln will produce faster results - but then you have danger of burnout so extreme care must be taken. I mostly use leaded Soyer French enamels. I test for acid sensitivity before using
imagocorvi 10 months ago
sorry,I posted before I'd watched the whole video!Which pickle are you using and are the enamels leaded? I've had problems with pickle negatively effecting the enamel-sometimes straight away and sometimes after the next firing.I have just read that safety pickle is never good with enamels,so was wondering whether sulphuric is ok?Would really appreciate your comments on this,it would be SO much easier to be able to clean multiple pieces in pickle each time!
pixiemog 10 months ago
between each coat/firing, how are you cleaning the copper (particularly the raised areas)? Are you pickling it? or scrubbing it? How do you avoid any black scale specks!!? :)
Thankyou very much for taking the time to do a demo video.
pixiemog 10 months ago