Torch Fire Enamel in 3 Ways - with Ricky Frank

Join renowned enamelist and jeweler Ricky Frank as he demonstrates enameling without a kiln, instead using a torch as his heat source. Ricky discusses the different techniques for using either a small butane torch or an acetylene torch, as well as firing enamel pieces on various surfaces.
Shop some of the suggested products based on those seen in this video:
Vermiculite Soldering Block, 13" ow.ly/e65y50FY411
Blazer Butane Microtorch ow.ly/1APk50FY49S
Smith Complete Little Torch Acetylene and Oxygen System ow.ly/zOQr50G0uX4
Soldering Tripod Kit with Coarse- and Fine-Mesh Steel Screens ow.ly/AXUp50FY4cR
Steel Heavy-Duty Heating Screen ow.ly/UTyL50FY4gS
Long Utility Tweezers ow.ly/Fgkt50FY4CR
Vermiculite Soldering Block, 5-1/2" ow.ly/62B850FY4N6
Torch Striker ow.ly/WsaO50FY4ON
Automatic Torch Igniter ow.ly/h2ur50FY4Qw
Safety Glasses ow.ly/ycdI50FY4Sq
Thompson Three-Point Trivets ow.ly/tUd750FY4Ul
Copper Discs, 1/2-Hard ow.ly/OlHx50FY50U
Thompson Lead-Free Opaque Enamel, 1890 Victoria Red ow.ly/sC4350FY56T
Thompson Lead-Free Opaque Enamel, 1995 Black ow.ly/mGgM50FY5ce
Thompson Lead-Free Opaque Enamel, 1860 Flame Orange ow.ly/n02o50FY5es
Rio Grande stands for makers who create with their hands and their hearts and who are courageous enough to make jewelry their livelihood.
Connect with Rio Online:
Visit Rio's Website:
Subscribe to Our Channel: ow.ly/dAbu309U7eg
Find Rio on Facebook: ow.ly/DpRd309U63Z
Follow Rio on Twitter: ow.ly/wdtU309U6oF
Follow Rio on Instagram: ow.ly/eu5A309U6vM

[@RioGrande1944]

The samples used in this video are copper! Thanks for watching!

[@Asayoga22]

Thank u for sharing video! Would it be okay to use engraved silver plate too? I mean can I kiln fire enamel on engraved silver plate. I have a small black torch just like yours. Thank u :)

[@RioGrande1944]

@@Asayoga22 Hello thanks for the question, we will pass it along to our Jewelry Tech Team and let you know what they say!

[@RioGrande1944]

@@Asayoga22 Hello, thanks for watching and to answer your question we spoke to our Jewelry Tech Team and they said no, you can not enamel on silver plate. The layer of silver is too thin and the silver will be dissolved into the enamels. Basically the plating will burn off. We hope this answers your question and feel free to reach out with any other questions you might have!

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

Two questions. The first is do you know if Mas would get hot enough to perform this procedure. The second is would this work with cast iron as well? Reason reason I ask is I would love to be able to use a color other than black on some of my old hand planes.

[@aly3560]

Very helpful. I am buying my first torch for my home so it will need to be Butane. I have previously used an Acetylene torch in class for copper & Silver metals and enameling on copper. But the Acetylene is extremely pricy and then you need to find a gas dealer. All too much hassle for a home shop. I also feel the Butane is a much safer route to go. I don’t plan on doing any large items - just small jewelry.

[@lesliescholz403]

My black counter enamel looks beautiful. Then I fire from underneath to melt the top layers with colors. Many times, I find that the black counter enamel has been heated so long that it now looks brownish and mottled. I've tried a mapp gas torch from the plumbing department. I've tried my smith Oxy/ propane torch, I've tried my butane torch. I've tried heating it with a cooler flame but longer. I've tried a hotter flame quicker. Is there a trick to keeping that backside looking nice too while melting the top layers? It seems to be hit or miss. I've been using the 80 mesh sifters on 24 gauge copper.

[@roe4353]

Hi Ricky, I have been watching your fantastic instructional videos all day on Enamelling and cloisonné. I’ve just tried my first piece using a small torch and after I the orange peel stage nothing seems to happen. Then when the piece has cooled enough for me to pick it up all the enamel just falls off in a sheet!!! What on earth am I doing wrong please??? I think your videos are so clear and precise, thanks very much for sharing so much of your knowledge.

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi there! We recommend giving a call to our Jewelry Tech Team so they can understand your process and figure out what is going on here. You can reach them at 800.545.6566 from 8:30am-5pm MST.

[@parmidanik5691]

Dear Ricky thanks for your amazing videos. I really appreciate if you tell me if I can use low temperature enamel (EFCO) to make beautiful pieces as same as yours? thank you

[@Liastnir]

Very helpful video, thank you!

[@Silentaudits7]

How do you avoid orange peel effect, do you re-heat after the first melt ? I want to enamel steel circles but the smoothness is critical for the final finish.

[@RioGrande1944]

To avoid the orange-peel effect, you will need to fire it a bit longer. The enamel will go from sugar, to orange-peel, to glossy. Firing it a bit longer will get you to that glossy stage.

[@shannabennett3325]

Is counter enamel necessary when torch firing a small flat piece of copper?

[@Schubelicious]

Shanna Bennett yes

[@mayl5386]

12:28 if its thick enough and small enough it may not be necessary

[@ra.5067]

Have you ever used Amacote when Torch-Firing on the counter enamel side to help keep the backside color from turning dark?

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi r.a., Thanks asking! Our in-house Jewelry Tech Team says that Amacote wouldn't work-the clay in the Amacote would fuse to the class on the back, and destroy any color applied there. Hope this helps!

[@candacecragg992]

If the enamel piece is NOT to be mounted onto a metal how do you keep the back side ( the undercoat) from turning a yucky color which happens when you fire the topcoat from the underrcoat side? Will a black enamel undercoat remain black ? Or?

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi there! The counter enamel on the back will typically turn a darker color when torch firing so we would recommend using a black counter enamel so it won’t be noticeable. We hope this helps!

[@candacecragg992]

Rio Grande i just tried using black for the counter enamel and it works. Yay. Thank you.

[@ninogng]

nice work !

[@ritagjefle3995]

What’s the small three prong piece called that you set the jewelry piece onto on top of the screen?

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello Rita, This piece is called a trivet. There are many styles available. You can see many on our website here: www.riogrande.com/search?q=trivet&c=&t=1&pageSize=32 Hope this helps & thanks for watching!

[@carmelfasolo9367]

Hello. I'm wondering can you enamel brass. I've never tried and wondering what your experience with this type of metal is.

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello, we will find out from our Jewelry Tech Team for you. We will let you know what advice they have!

[@RioGrande1944]

Hello, our Tech Team got back to us and they said that enameling on alloys like brass require special enamels which we don’t carry unfortunately. Most enamels require a high purity metal like fine silver, copper, or high karat gold. When enameling on alloys, cracking of the enamel as it cools is likely. We hope that this information is helpful and we appreciate you reaching out!

[@avakoohbor]

What's the best gauge sheet for torch enameling?

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi Ava, Thanks for asking. We talked to our Jewelry Tech Team for a little more insight. Here's what they said, "There is no best or recommended gauge to use for this process. The determining factor would be what you are making (earrings, pendant, etc.) and its weight. Some artists enamel 18ga and some use 32ga. The limiting factor is the torch you have and if it will get the mass up to enameling temp. More mass will require more heat." We hope this helps!

[@avakoohbor]

Thanks! Got it!... the usual way, practice and experiment...

[@foreverethereal8911]

Hello. Is it possible to use the torch-firing technique for plique-à-jour, please? I've tried using my ceramics kiln but the result was not up to my expectations.

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi There, Thanks for asking. We talked to our Jewelry Tech Team about this for their input, here's what they said, "It would be very difficult to do that technique with a torch. Plique-a-jour requires gentle heating as you get in a kiln." If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to let us know, or you can contact our team at 800-545-6566. Hope this helps!

[@foreverethereal8911]

Thank you so much for your help and answer.

[@user-fj9hz8gg5u]

большое спасибо!

[@annehagan4938]

What metal are you using? Thanks

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi Anne, The samples here are on copper. Thanks for watching!

[@huskyfluffy]

Those are the titanium trivets, correct??....Which don't act as a heat sink. That's important for newbies like me to learn. Love the hole! We could not tell that any areas got smoother than the other. Maybe a different choice of enamel would help. Maybe a solid color. Couldn't see any sheen. He says... "it's getting orange peel" ... is orange peel a good thing or a bad thing??!! This isn't explained! This is very vague! I know a tiny bit about enameling... so I'm aware of how vague this is. What should we see?? He's just saying what he sees... but not if what he says is good or bad. So frustrating! At 7:07 I don't understand what he's saying at all! I think this should be redone, with a beginning middle and end laid out. He says that "the butane torch is less hot than the acetylene"...But doesn't say you can just turn down the acetylene to make it less hot. This is all over the place. I LOVE Rio... but this isn't a good video. Sorry who checks these?? A person who is a jeweler, or, it almost seems not. 😩

[@RioGrande1944]

Hi There! Thank you so much for these questions. Our Jewelry Tech Team would love to talk to you and work through the enameling process. They can be reached at 800.545.6566-7 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday (ask for our Jewelry Tech Team). Hope this helps!

[@amartistandperfumer]

You have to watch more videos - this is one step in a long process.

[@StinkyDustyBird]

A.M. Brown they should link the others then, I didn’t know as it doesn’t say pt1 or 4 etc and now have to troll through looking for others