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Author: JimBolesDesigns, Contributing Editor
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| As you can see the enamels are in place. I used some of each color seen in first photo. The enamels will aid in the absorption of the metal leaf into the glass. Metal leaf can be added straight onto glass (Bullseye, Moretti etc), but it takes some work to get them to be absorbed into the glass (a lot of heat with a small pointed flame). If the metals lay on top of the glass instead of being incorporated, they may end up being just ugly gray splotches. However, they might also turn into a nice shade of red if you also use a reducing flame, and the copper fairies are kind to you that day.
Metals, time, flame atmosphere, torch temperature, and the various chemical reactions between the materials you are using will determine the outcome. Incorporation Of The Metals |
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| Once the leaf is in place an oxidizing flame is used to heat them into the glass. On the top of the marble you can see a greenish area, which is where the copper has already been absorbed. The silver in the center of the marble is palladium, which takes some work to melt in. I will have to play some more with palladium in small experiments to make sure I take full advantage of it. It is twice the cost of gold and I’m not sure I got much from it in the final marble.
The Second Punty Off |
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| I will need to punty off again since metal will need to be added to the other half of the marble. In this picture I have already removed the rod, and now the remaining glass is removed. The second half of the marble will be shaped in the mold, leaf added, and heated until all the metal is absorbed.
You can tell when the metal is absorbed by observing that the surface has changed color where the leaf was, and that there are no longer any metallic shimmers, or scummy areas. Copper will sparkle as it melts in, and when it is mostly done sparkling then it has been absorbed. Please have proper ventilation, which will protect you from the enamel powders. There are several places on WC! which already discuss proper ventilation when working with enamels, and the health risks for not doing so. Reducing Flame To Accentuate The Metals |
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| The reducing flame is out of focus in the background. You can barely make out the elongated inner white cone of a reducing torch atmosphere. The marble is rotated in the flame until the metals have a distinct sheen as they move in and out of the flame. This will take a bit of time to get the results you are looking for.
Encasing |
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Once the reducing process is done then I encase the marble with clear glass. I didn’t play around with reducing and oxidizing through multiple steps. As I get more advanced I will try that. Maybe I’ll try reducing just certain areas (metals) that need more reduction versus others that may look better with no reduction. The combinations are endless. Rounding & Examination |
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