Making Enamel Sample Strips

[@jessicamarshall7507]

Thank you Sandra! I'm just getting vb into enamelling and I'm loving all your vids. I'm using mainly copper and I was making very small samples. I'm now inspired to actually back enamel them and do with flux, white and plain copper as background. I love how organised and methodical you are! Now I need some more colours.....

[@sandramcewen]

Thanks! :) If you like these videos, I have a lot more on my Vimeo site: vimeo.com/ondemand/sandramcewen/

[@xsjewellery3157]

I am really enjoying your tutorials, lots of clear instruction . Much appreciated.

[@mrgreene3290]

I haven't made sample sets as yet, only for the colors I'm about to use, but your process is so organized and clear, I'm encouraged to go ahead and make samples, especially of some of the discontinued colors I've obtained. Also nice to see how the sawhorse trivet is used, never quite understood how to best use it, but I very much like the multiple pieces it can hold. Found your KZbin channel after a friend posted that she recently took a workshop with you... such great videos, love how you cover all the details, keep it up.

[@sandramcewen]

Making samples is a great way to get more comfortable with the enamels and the equipment! Good luck! :) Also, just fyi, I'm in the process of moving my videos to Vimeo. I'll still be posting free videos here, but I would like to do more in depth videos and not have to add third party ads. If you are interested, here's a link: vimeo.com/ondemand/sandramcewen/ I'll be adding 2 new videos per month, and there's one coming out tomorrow!

[@ismaeltorresjr.4945]

Hi Sandra, hope you are well. Thank you for sharing. I too got lucky and came across 140 bottles of Thompson enamels. I want to keep some but would love to sell some as well. Any suggestions on sites I can sell from? There all leaded Enamels. Thanks again! ❤️

[@altar7885]

It seems like all the colors were designed to look good over silver. What should one do to get nice colors over gold? Use opales and not transparents? Put a 1st layer of opaque white? Thank you for your advice.

[@sandramcewen]

It would seem a shame to cover the expensive gold with opaque enamels. You could use colors that look great over gold- reds, oranges, greens and warm purples. You could also use some fine silver leaf in areas you want to use a cooler color palette with. Good luck!

[@vasbeata]

Thanks for your all tutorial videos, these were clear and amazing. I have a simple question... I think for a lot of people is too evident, but I work with not this methode (dry enamel).. what is the clear fluid in your video, wich do you apply with a brush before flux? Is it simple distilled water, or what? Thank you for your answer!

[@sandramcewen]

I'm using A1 Klyr Fire. :)

[@vasbeata]

@@sandramcewen Thanks! I will buy! :)

[@BlissfulBirdStudio]

Hi Sandra! I’m making my samples now and had a quick question: When doing multiple layers of sifting (for instance when you did two coats of counter enamel) do you have to use klyr fire before you sift the second coat? Or can you sift directly onto your first coat of enamel without the klyr fire? Thanks!

[@sandramcewen]

Hi Kacie- It's optional, but you might get a more even layer of enamel if you use the Klyr fire... :)

[@orion8835]

Fascinating and you are a true 💎 gem yourself.

[@ismaeltorresjr.4945]

I do have about 10 colors, each, 1 lb bottles of Thompsons leaded Opalescent enamel including white

[@richardstursa6711]

What great tutorials!! I am retired and just took up enameling. Just bought a kiln (with window as you suggested in prior vid , bought Rio's Thompson assortment, made color boards on fine silver but not very happy with lack of color intensity. I want to buy some leaded enamels from Coral in Seattle and try them but can't find any info on sites or Ganoksin as to whether you have to vent air around kiln when firing leaded enamels or use a more sophisticated respirator. I am working in a small studio so am a bit concerned. Do the leaded enamels during firing throw off any lead,cadmium, arsenic etc. Really need your expert advice on this one. Thank you so much. Also, thanks for the cupric acetate---great video.

[@sandramcewen]

Richard Stursa I don't do any special venting of my enamel kiln- your main concern with the leaded enamels is when you're using them dry. For example if your sifting or before your washing them, and even when you're grinding them that's putting up a lot of dust, I use a good particulate respirator, and wipe down all the areas near where i'm working fairly often.

[@dobromiryanakiev5240]

Hi, can I ask you a question ? Do you know online shop for enamel , placed somewhere in Europe ? I just want to order enamels online from EU, not USA (transportation and import tax is very expensive )

[@MNoorlander]

Hi Sandra what Mesh are the sifters you are using?

[@sandramcewen]

I think those are 40 mesh sifters. :)

[@billhay6540]

Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge! Could you please share what mesh the sifters you use to cover your prepared strips are? I'm guessing anything over 80 mesh would be fine?

[@sandramcewen]

Hi Bill, I'm not sure- as far as I've seen, the sifters only come in one size mesh. (or the cheap ones do anyway...) But anything over 80 would be fine... ;)

[@gmcneice3]

What temperature do you fire the samples I have not done this before?

[@amandalloyd8812]

I really enjoying seeing your habits and methods (and your pieces!) I was given a big box of old T enamels and you've now convinced me to find the time to do this soon. ....as for that potmarking! I bought a discontinued schauer leaded red and the potmarking is almost volcanic - nothing will melt it smooth. please post if you figure out what causes that - I'd love to know!

[@sandramcewen]

Not every old enamel is a winner- that's why we do the sample strips. If it seems super strange or really unexpected things happen with a sample strip, I'll so another test, just to be sure. But I only want colors that play well with my other colors and silver. You have to know when to call it a day...

[@richardstursa6711]

Hi Sandra, a couple of questions please. Were the samples you used pre-sifted through a 200 mesh screen to get a true transparent color representation. Secondly, when you end up with samples that are not to be used, do you have a good way to reclaim the silver for other uses. Oops, third question, how to dispose of leaded enamel washing water. We have a hazardous waste facility in Issaquah so thought that might be appropriate. Thoughts? Thank You.

[@omkeshsrinivas8344]

Good job mam

[@JessicaCEP]

That’s a sweet friend!

[@kellioaks63]

Great video thank you. I see you are shifting dry enamel. I’ve washed my enamels so do I just leave them in the cups to dry so they can be shifted? I’ve tried to apply them wet but the coverage is uneven.

[@sandramcewen]

I usually don't wash my enamels before making sample strips. If you are concerned about clarity, you can pre-sift the dry enamels in a 200 sized sifter. That will remove most of the fines, and you'll have nice clear sample strips. Good luck!

[@millislim]

What gauge silver did you use for your strips?

[@sandramcewen]

22 or 24 gauge work well. you can definitely go thinner, but you might want to dome the metal to prevent cracking.

[@lisajarvis3820]

On camera the two beige strips ~ the one on the right ( as your 👀 down at them ) is slightly darker in tone!!

[@diannacooper6039]

Your process is so serious!!! 👍🏾 reactive is bad?

[@sandramcewen]

Yes- it means that the silver is causing the enamel color to change, usually it'll turn dark brown. But some of the reds and pinks turn bright yellow when they come in contact with the silver. If it's really reactive, you'll even see brown speckling through the clear enamel layer- those are the colors I just don't bother with.

[@EKimatH]

Hello! I really hope you are still active on this account, I’m at a loss and in desperate need of help. The place I work is a non-profit sheltered employment, so we rely quite heavily on donated materials. Over the years the facility accumulated a lot of “unknown” materials, with incomplete or illegible labels, missing or misplaced labels (we have two bags of powder enamel that had their labels smooshed and fused into each other over years of being at the bottom of the crate, materials that are not in their original packaging, etc. Is there a way to tell what can and cannot be used, if chunks of glass are fit to be grinded into powder, or if a powder has went bad? Some of these little rascals are estimated to be as old as my parents, so I want to treat them with respect, but I also don’t want to waste eons on trying to rescue a bag of glass that’s a lost cause...

[@sandramcewen]

It's hard to say. If the enamels are clean and free of contaminants, it might be worthwhile to make a sample strip and see if you like the color. But usually in classroom environments, the enamels weren't treated well and tend to be in bad shape. I'd take some photos of what you have, and post them in one of the Vitreous enamel destash groups on Facebook... Good luck!

[@frankkramer3512]

I love your videos and tutorials. Please keep it up! I notice that you have a sieve for each color that you are making a sample from. Seems like that could get expensive. How hard is it to clean a sieve to get it ready for the next color? What is the process? Thanks.

[@sandramcewen]

Hi Frank! I've got a lot of those sifters because I teach workshops. But you can just buy a couple- rinse and dry them thoroughly and you'll be good to go! Good luck! :)

[@douglasrandall6737]

I am getting a,lot of information from you!

[@sandramcewen]

Thanks! :)

[@sk.soleman9236]

I need enamels

[@sk.soleman9236]

Hello

[@sk.soleman9236]

Help me

[@omkeshsrinivas8344]

❤🧡💛💚💙

[@sk.soleman9236]

Please

[@manigeheskandari4661]

Z