Alan Twelvetree

 

Linda provided each of her students with a full set of notes to supplement her lesson which will prove their worth in the future also.

 

The prime purpose of putting a thin layer of silver on to the copper is to improve the results with transparent enamels, but there are other advantages too. It reduces the cost and therefore the price of the finished piece compared with working on silver. The silver surface is fine (pure) which gives more consistent enamelling results than sterling silver because of the latter's copper content. Silver cloisonne wire would melt if fired direct on to a copper base and the foil tends to provide a crinkled surface which can provide a more stimulating background for enamel than a smooth silver surface.

 

In outline, Linda's technique is as follows: -

 

1. Clean and prepare a copper blank, and apply hard flux to the front and back, taking special care of the front edges as the foil will not adhere. She always applies a second coat of counter-enamel, usually black, as this is the most marketable for jewellery.
2. The foil is supplied enclosed between two sheets of tissue paper. Draw the outline of the blank on to one side of the tissue, then prick through the silver foil to provide a series of small holes to release any air trapped between the foil and the copper.
3. Cut out the foil with sharp scissors before removing the tissue protection.
4. Coat the fluxed surface of the copper with a gum such as Klyr Fire or Gum Trag., and then pick up the foil using the sticky brush, so as not to get grease from the fingers on it, and transfer it to the copper. Press down slightly.
5. Place the piece into a medium kiln (approx. 850°C) for about 45-60 seconds to just melt the surface of the flux to allow the foil to fuse. The foil may rise from the surface if insufficiently pricked. In this case, remove the piece from the kiln, and press the foil down with a smooth metal surface such as a burnisher.
6. Sift a thin layer (one granule thick!) of silver flux over the foil and fire. Remove from the kiln before the surface has completely fired smooth. You now have a surface that will withstand all the necessary fiddling around, as you try to position your wires where you require them.

 

Log in to read more....