Dorothy Cockrell

Although enamel is sold as 80 mesh this is not entirely correct for all the grains in the jar. It is necessary to have a variety of sizes mixed together as fine ones stop coarser ones jumping off the edge of the metal leaving a black edge after firing. Of course, the fine ones pass through the sifter more easily than the coarser ones, especially if one uses an 80 mesh or finer one. (If the enamel just won’t stay on the edge and insists on leaping off onto the paper, use a finer sifter round the edges.) All this means one is often left with small amounts of coarse enamel with no obvious use.

To throw it away would be wasteful, but using it for experiments feels different.

 

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