{"id":8945,"date":"2018-08-15T17:33:30","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T01:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/?p=8945"},"modified":"2023-02-22T14:36:19","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T22:36:19","slug":"enameling-on-bronze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/15\/enameling-on-bronze\/","title":{"rendered":"Enameling on Bronze"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This post is intended for people who enamel or wish to enamel on metal clay.<\/p>\n<p>Bronze is considered hard to enamel. One thing that happens repeatedly, for example, is that the enamel flakes off. This can happen right away (which can be dangerous if you are enameling with a torch), or it can happen over time. The enamel on the piece in the photo below flaked off over a period of a few months. Every once in a while I saw that another piece was missing.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8946\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Enameling-on-bronze-300x280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"280\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8946\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Enameling-on-bronze-300x280.jpg 300w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Enameling-on-bronze.jpg 648w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, there is one condition under which the enamel stays on: the enamel needs to be enclosed in a recessed area. In the photo below, for example, you can see high areas and low areas. The low areas are closed on all sides.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8948\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-07-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8948\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-07-192x300.jpg 192w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-07.jpg 405w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the low areas it is safe to enamel without the risk of the enamel flaking off.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8949\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-113-207x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"207\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8949\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-113-207x300.jpg 207w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-113.jpg 472w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 207px) 100vw, 207px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Here are a few more examples. In all of them I used One-fire Brilliant Bronze.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8953\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-04-295x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"295\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8953\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-04-295x300.jpg 295w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-04.jpg 662w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 295px) 100vw, 295px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8954\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-74-294x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"294\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8954\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-74-294x300.jpg 294w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-74.jpg 517w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 294px) 100vw, 294px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8955\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-109-300x287.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"287\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8955\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-109-300x287.jpg 300w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-109.jpg 648w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8956\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-120-300x298.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"298\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8956\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-120-300x298.jpg 300w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-120-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-120.jpg 587w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"frame-outer  aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8957\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-22-291x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"291\" height=\"300\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8957\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-22-291x300.jpg 291w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-22.jpg 599w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 291px) 100vw, 291px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>How do we do this? One way is to build a second layer, with cutouts, on top of a backing layer. I find it easier to start with a 6- or 8-card layer, dry it, and then carve out the recessed parts with a diamond burr, taking out a thickness of about 2 cards. (All of the carved-out clay can be re-used, of course).<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8959\" style=\"width: 196px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8959\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8959\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/04-186x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"186\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8959\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/04-186x300.jpg 186w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/04.jpg 614w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Draw the picture<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8960\" style=\"width: 193px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8960\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8960\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/09-183x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"183\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8960\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/09-183x300.jpg 183w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/09.jpg 579w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 183px) 100vw, 183px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8960\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Carve out the unmarked areas<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Copper and steel clay can be enameled with or without recessed areas. Here are a few examples:<div id=\"attachment_8962\" style=\"width: 290px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8962\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8962\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-68-280x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"280\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8962\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-68-280x300.jpg 280w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-68.jpg 679w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Copper<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8963\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8963\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8963\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-125-300x277.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"277\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8963\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-125-300x277.jpg 300w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-125.jpg 552w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8963\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Copper<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8964\" style=\"width: 252px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8964\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8964\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-54-242x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"242\" height=\"300\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8964\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-54-242x300.jpg 242w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-54.jpg 486w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Low-shrinkage Steel <em>XT<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8965\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><span class=\"frame-outer  size-medium wp-image-8965\"><span><span><span><span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8965\" src=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-73-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-8965\" srcset=\"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-73-300x289.jpg 300w, http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/t-73.jpg 568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><p id=\"caption-attachment-8965\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Low-shrinkage Steel <em>XT<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This post is intended for people who enamel or wish to enamel on metal clay. Bronze is considered hard to enamel. One thing that happens repeatedly, for example, is that the enamel flakes off. This can happen right away (which can be dangerous if you are enameling with a torch), or it can happen over [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8945"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8945"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8971,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8945\/revisions\/8971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/artinsilver.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}