Basics: Dry Sifting Enamels

Dry Sifting

Dry sifting is excellent when enamelling areas (flat or convex) that you covered with the same color. It is also an excellent way to get a base color down and to create the effect of colors blending.

• Cover enamelling area with slick pages from magazines.
• Wipe out sifter with a damp paper towel.
• Dry the sifter with a dry paper towel. – This prevents any residual enamel particles from the previous use from muddying your chosen color.
• Brush a good coat of gum agar onto the metal where you want the enamel to be. Make sure to get the edges.
• While agar is still wet, scoop a spoonful of dry powder enamel into the sifter.
• Lift sifter over piece and tap side gently with your finger- just like confectioners sugar!
• Coat the entire piece evenly! Make sure you don’t skimp n the edges!
• The piece should have a coating approx. 1mm thick.
• Gently lift piece by the edges and place on trivet, place trivet on firing rack.
• Place firing rack on top of kiln so that the agar and enamel can dry.
• Drying usually takes 3-10 minutes.
• Fire piece.
• Make sure that you wash and thoroughly dry the sifters each time you use them.
• Use a new sheet of magazine for EVERY color! Pour any powder on the sheet into the counter enamel container.