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Hi trish,
I've got some questions for you. Have you worked with Thompson titanium 1020? if so, what temp does it like to behave at? I've been firing between 1425 and 1445 deg. with mixed results. the first firing, it's brilliant white and perfect. I put 1020 on both sides of a piece of fine silver and after the second coat on the first side, it's getting light brownish veins and imperfections sort of like it's burned. but it doesn't want to go past orange peel when I fire it at 1400. please let me know your thoughts on that.
ANSWER: From our Expert Tom Ellis
Titanium 1020 is the Wrong enamel for use on Silver. It is only used for Copper and is a low expansion enamel which is not used under other enamels because it melts so quickly. Silver is a high expansion metal - Titanium 1020 also reacts to silver and that is the reason you have browning - Depending on how long it takes you to place your piece in a 1460-1470 kiln, the kiln should be at 1450 when your enamel is heating. If your kiln is running hot, open the door for a few seconds to bring the temp back down to 1450.
Hi trish,
I've got some questions for you. Have you worked with Thompson titanium 1020? if so, what temp does it like to behave at? I've been firing between 1425 and 1445 deg. with mixed results. the first firing, it's brilliant white and perfect. I put 1020 on both sides of a piece of fine silver and after the second coat on the first side, it's getting light brownish veins and imperfections sort of like it's burned. but it doesn't want to go past orange peel when I fire it at 1400. please let me know your thoughts on that.
ANSWER: From our Expert Tom Ellis
Titanium 1020 is the Wrong enamel for use on Silver. It is only used for Copper and is a low expansion enamel which is not used under other enamels because it melts so quickly. Silver is a high expansion metal - Titanium 1020 also reacts to silver and that is the reason you have browning - Depending on how long it takes you to place your piece in a 1460-1470 kiln, the kiln should be at 1450 when your enamel is heating. If your kiln is running hot, open the door for a few seconds to bring the temp back down to 1450.