[TheForge] pot

[Todd Rich]

On Wed, 8 Aug 2012, Bruce . wrote:

> I have enameled on copper.  Steel requires more attention because it's
> more prone to oxidize, but the process is the same.  It's a little
> like soldering or brazing -- get the metal clean, apply flux (NOT
> necessarily the flux you use for brazing), apply glass frit, heat to
> red.
>
> There are lots of books on "copper enameling" out there.  Interested
> persons should read up on it.
>
I enamel on silver with mostly clear and opalescent enamels.  Fun art. 
However my teacher got heavy metal poisoning working on a plique-a-jour 
piece using German high-fire (1500F) enamels.  I use Japanese high-fire 
enamels, and get tested regularly.  So far, no blips in my tests.

Coloring agents can be cadmium, barium, lead, arsenic, and antimony.

 		Todd