Cooksongold Help CentreAnswer
Aug 15, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Learning to fire enamel requires practice. There are no rules stating exactly how long each piece should be heated, and therefore no timer can be set. Firing times are dependant on several factors:
- Metal type
- Metal thickness and size
- Enamel colour and thickness
- Enamel particle size (smaller particles, such as 325 mesh, require less heat to soften. Larger particles such as 80 mesh, require more heat).
- Kiln being used (Kilns are not all exactly alike, they differ in age, size, wattage etc)
There are 4 stages that enamel will progress through when heated: sugar; orange peel; full fuse; over fired.
These words describe what the enamel looks like at each stage.
- Sugar - Looks like fine sugar.
- Orange Peel - Looks just like an orange peel, glossy with bumps.
- Full Fuse - Full Fuse is when the surface is smooth and shiny.
- Over Fired - Over Fired is when you start to see pits in the surface, black spots and sometimes the edges of the enamel will start to creep and change colour.
Each stage is obtained by controlling the heat. All have their place and it is advisable to become familiar with each so you understand what they look like, how they can work to your advantage and how to avoid them if they are not what you are looking
