Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3
by Karen Meador, Ph.D.
Transparent enamels on copper take on a special look when fired on textured metal. The depth and interest of the texture is enhanced by the transparents.

You can purchase textured metal or prepare it yourself with a rolling mill or embossing machine. I have an embossing machine that is made for use on paper; however, I find it works fine on the 24g metal I'm using in this project.
Cut one or more disks and place the holes where you want them. (Are you making earrings, a necklace like the one shown in Part I which requires two holes in each disk or a necklace similar to the one above which requires one hole in the disk?) Then follow the guidelines for your rolling mill or embossing machine to texture the metal.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, embossing metal
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, punch a hole
Use the pliers to give the disk a gentle curve. (Note: you can't hammer the metal using a punch as shown in Part II since this will remove some of the depth on the texture.)
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, curve the disk
Follow the steps provided in Part II of this series (https://www.wirejewelry.com/jewelry_making_articles/Working-with-Transparent-Enamels-Part-2--The-Use-of-Flux-with-Transparent-Enamels-on-Copper-_73.html). to begin enameling. These include (a) applying two fired coats of counter enamel on the back of the disk, (b) soaking the disk in pickle to remove fire scale, (c) rinsing off the pickle with water and (d) applying a coat of 2030 Medium Fusing Flux, firing until it clears.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, counter enamel
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, fusing flux
Torch fire one or more light coats of colored transparent enamel on the disk until achieving the color you want.
Note: If you find the colored transparent enamel is too dark and hides the texture, use a mesh size sifter with smaller holes. I normally use an 40-mesh sifter for enameling; however, I often use a 150-mesh sifter for this step. In my opinion the layer of color sifted through the 150-mesh sifter is less intense in color due to the smaller grain size and it looks lighter. If the color is too light, I can always add another coat.
If the edges of the disk are rough, use an alundum stone, file or sand paper to smooth them. This will also help prevent chipping.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, transparent enamel
One flower disk on the Textured Necklace with Stone displays the use of more than one transparent color.
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, texture under enamel
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, flower enamel disk
I followed the normal procedure discussed in Part II by firing two coats of counter enamel on the back of the disk and a coat of Medium Fusing flux on the front. Then I applied transparent Egg Yellow 2215 in the center, transparent Harold Purple 2720 around this and finally transparent Gem Green on the perimeter of the tri-color flower and torch fired it.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, flower disk
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
I prepared the flower disk in the Sampler Necklace shown in Part I using varying grain sizes of transparent Turquoise 2435 and transparent Egg Yellow 2215. After firing the necessary counter enamel and flux, I used a paint brush to apply Klyrfire to the perimeter of the disk and sprinkled a coat of the Turquoise through the 40-mesh sifter. I used a small spatula to help direct the enamel where I wanted it and also sifted some yellow onto the flower center and before torch firing the disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, fluxing
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
Then I sifted a coat of Turquoise over the entire disk using a 150-mesh sifter and fired the disk.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, sifting enamel
You can also use textured flat metal wire for this project. I suggest a coat or two of light-colored transparent sifted through the 150-mesh sifter. I was not as happy with the results when I used darker colored transparents such as the transparent Turquoise 2435 or transparent Blue Heron 2650 as I couldn't see the texture very well. The photo shows a pair of earrings on which I used transparent Harold Purple 2720 and another with transparent Egg Yellow 2215.

Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, enamel earrings
Karen Meador, Ph.D.'s Working with Transparent Enamels, Pt. 3  - , Enameling, Enamel Jewelry Supplies, Enamel, Enameling, Enameled Jewelry, enamel earrings

Materials

Metal Discs -- Copper - 11/16" (package of 10)
DIS-COP.241116
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Metal Discs -- Copper - 5/8" (package of 10)
DIS-COP.262
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Tools

Basic Soldering Kit
G15-4
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Thompson 1.25 Inch Trivet - Pack of 1
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Thompson 40 Mesh Sifter Small - Pack of 3
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1608 Storm Blue Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1608
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1660 Ultramarine Blue Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1660
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1708 Pastel Pink Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1708
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1715 Clover Pink Thompson Opaque Enamel
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1745 Fox Glove Purple Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1745
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1760 Iris Purple Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1760
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1995 Black Thompson Opaque Enamel
EN-1995
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  • Category: Enamel
  • Technique(s): Enamel