Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (2024)

  • Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (1)

Guide To Vitreous Enamel Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn

EnamelingGlass

By Kristin Arzt

Home/Guides//Guide To Vitreous Enamel Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn

Guide To Vitreous Enameling

What is vitreous enamel?

Vitreous enameling is the process of fusing glass to metal at high heat. In American English, “enamel” is sometimes referred to as the material on our teeth or glossy paint. The word “vitreous” is used to distinguish it from look-alike substances such as epoxy resin, which is sometimes referred to as “cold” enamel. The element of heat in the vitreous enameling process is a key distinguishing factor from paint or resin.

Various enamels have been formulated to fuse to a variety of metals, but the most commonly used enamels are known as Jewelry enamels. These can fuse to copper, silver, and gold. Industrial enamels, which are also known as porcelain enamels because of how they are made, are formulated to fuse to various ferrous metals such as steel and cast iron.

How enamels are made

To make vitreous enamels, the raw materials of silica sand, feldspar, borax, soda ash, and sodium fluoride are placed in a crucible. They are then smelted in a furnace between 1200 and 1350 degrees Celsius until all of the raw materials have liquified and mixed together. Once smelted, the mixture is poured onto a steel slab to cool or quenched in cool water. Once it is cold, it is ground into powder using a ball mill. During the smelting process, other non-organic additives can be incorporated to give color, degree of transparency or opacity, acid resistance, and other various properties.

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (2)

What can you do with vitreous enamel?

Vitreous enamel is used to decorate precious objects and create art. In its industrial form, which has been used since the middle of the 18th century, vitreous enamel is used to make practical objects, like cookware, bathtubs, and more.

Jewelry enamels, which are the most commonly used enamels, are used to make both precious objects and everyday jewelry. Enameled jewelry dates back to the 6th century B.C. when it was used to color gold rings found in a royal palace in Cypress. More recently, the most well-known vitreous enamels were used to make Fabergé eggs and the Battersea enameled copper boxes.

Industrial enamels are used to make many practical, everyday items. Some of the most well-known uses of industrial enamels can be found in the high end Le Creuset Cookware as well as simple picnicware, traffic signs, cookware, and various appliances. Enameled cast iron bathtubs and sinks can be found in the home. Transportation industries have used porcelain enamel to create signage and public art for large projects.

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (3)

The process of vitreous enameling explained

Whether you are using jewelry enamels or porcelain enamels, the first step involves preparing the metal you will be using. Fabricate, shape, and clean the metal before you apply the enamel.

Enamels will fuse to metal between 1400 to 1600 degrees Fahrenheit using either a kiln or a torch if it is a smaller piece. The bigger the piece to be enameled, the larger the kiln will need to be.

Apply counter enamel

Counter enamel can be applied to the back of the piece of metal before enamels are added. Unlike other glazing techniques, enameling involves heating a piece fairly quickly and then exposing it to a cold environment immediately after firing. This rapid change in temperature can cause thermal shock, warping and cracking the enamel. Counter enamel prevents the effects of thermal shock.

Heat is applied

Before firing your piece in the kiln, place it on a trivet. Put on your safety glasses and heat resistant gloves. After the kiln reaches 1500 degrees Fahrenheit, insert your enameled piece, and set your timer. Enamels usually fire in just a few minutes, so make sure to stay close. You can remove your enameled piece from the kiln while it is still hot.

Enamel is applied to surface

If you are working with dry enamels, you can apply color by using a sifter to coat your metal. You may have to pick up and angle the metal workpiece so it is evenly coated. You may choose to work with different particle sizes, sift through stencils, or use various techniques to create visual effects. As you apply your enamel, make sure it does not pick up any contaminants, like dust or hair. The final layer should not be more than ⅛ inch thick. If it is any thicker, you run the risk of cracking your enamel.

Applying wet enamels is more labor intensive than working with dry enamels. It usually involves applying wet enamels to a previously fired enamel surface. These enamels are suspended in a water-based liquid, and can be applied by dipping, flow-coating, or spraying onto the surface of your work piece. It allows for thicker layers and makes it easy to layer enamels.

Enameling is the only glazing process that allows you to remove the piece from the kiln while it is still hot. When working with ceramics or glass, you must wait for the piece to anneal and slowly cool down to prevent thermal shock.

As the piece is fired, the enamels melt and flood the surface of the metals. As it cools, the enamels fuse to the metal surface. Let your piece cool to room temperature before handling it.

Repeat as necessary!

You can repeat this process as many times as you like, but be sure to work in order from hard fusing to soft fusing enamels. When layering enamels, you will need to apply the enamels in such a way that they don’t crack when fired. Start with hard fusing enamels that take the longest amount of time to fuse. Then, apply medium fusing enamels, all the way to the lowest temperature enamels.

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (4)

Learn vitreous enameling at The Crucible

In The Crucible’s Enameling Department, we teach both traditional and experimental application techniques to various metals. In our introductory enameling classes, students will learn about the properties of materials, tools, and equipment, as well as basic dry application techniques. More advanced classes teach a range of classical wet application techniques, many of which have French names, as well as contemporary experimental techniques. You can learn to make objects ranging from fine cloisonné jewelry to large-scale steel sculptures and wall pieces. Our well-equipped studio features everything you need to learn the basics of enameling, and then take it to the next level.

Vitreous enamel FAQs

What is vitreous enamel made of?

Vitreous enamel is made by smelting naturally occurring minerals, such as raw silica, feldspar, borax, soda ash, and sodium fluoride at high temperatures until all of the raw materials have melted. Different combinations of these materials will create unique characteristics, such as opacity, colorant, transparency, acid resistance, and more.

What’s the difference between vitreous enamel and regular enamel?

Vitreous enamel is simply regular enamel. All other uses of the word “enamel,” such as the enamel of your teeth or a powder coating on metal, have nothing to do with fusing glass to metal at high heat. Powder coating is not a vitreous enameling technique even though some heat may be used to cure paint.

Porcelain enamel became popular during the industrial revolution to prevent steel from rusting. To make porcelain enamel, the frit is combined in a container with kaolin clay to keep the particles in solution. Porcelain enamels can be applied wet using techniques like spraying, silkscreening, and more.

Can vitreous enamel be repaired?

The most common way to repair chips in vitreous jewelry enamel is by using epoxy. This method is more cosmetic and simply covers the repaired area with paint, which will never be as durable as the original enamel. Only specially trained enamelists are able to repair jewelry enamels. Industrial enamels are a bit easier to repair although industry, because it works by uniform standards, often discards damaged items rather than repair them.

How durable is vitreous enamel?

Jewelry enamels tend to be very fragile, but if they are protected from harsh handling, they can retain their vibrancy for centuries. Industrial enamels are incredibly durable and resistant against light, scratches, chemicals, and natural elements. A great example of the durability of vitreous enamels is outdoor signs, which are subject to rain, sunlight, and even fires, but maintain their color and integrity for years.

Is it safe to cook with vitreous enamel?

Yes, it is safe to cook with porcelain enameled cookware. It is easy to clean, hygienic, and long-lasting against intense temperatures. Jewelry enamels used in vessels and ornate utensils are not used for cooking.

You Can Learn To Enamel

The Crucible has new enameling classes offered weekly.

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (5)

Register today

Enamel Drawing

Line drawings can evolve into beautiful pieces of decorative or wearable art when interpreted in vitreous enamels on copper. Students will practice using transparent enamel to...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (7)

Register today

Fred Ball Experimental Enameling Techniques

Fred Uhl Ball (1945-1985) was an enamelist who lived and taught in Sacramento. His work was viewed as highly unorthodox at the time, but created a firm basis for current...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (8)

Register today

Enamel Hearts

Spend the morning making an original heart-shaped pendant for your valentine, pet, or yourself—just in time for Valentine’s Day! Sweetly sentimental or post-apocalyptic, the...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (9)

Register today

Enamel Surfaces

In this introduction to surface alterations, students will practice additive enameling techniques both during and after the final firing. Additive techniques include firing on to a...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (10)

Register today

Cloisonne Intensive

Cloisonné, meaning “to partition” in French, is one of the oldest enamel techniques. The fusing of fine wires, to a base coat of enamel, creates the framework. The...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (11)

Register today

Champlevé is a beautiful enameling technique where recessed areas in metal are filled with vitreous enamels. Using design techniques like sawing, filing, sweat soldering, wet...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (12)

Register today

Working Large: A Journey into Industrial Enameling on Steel

Make large-scale art come alive in this weekend intensive enameling course! Learn to apply liquid vitreous enamels which the enamel industry pioneered to create signage,...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (14)

Register today

Re-Enameled Camping Ware

Camping ware is made of enameled steel. It usually has a solid color or granite finish. In this 4 hour class students will use enamels in liquid form to make what is a normally...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (15)

Register today

Beginning Cloisonne

Learn the basics of cloisonné enameling, a technique that has been practiced throughout the history of this wonderful medium. Cloisonné involves using thin silver wire to divide...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (16)

Register today

3-Hour Taster: Enameling

3-Hour Tasters are a great way to explore a new art form without the deeper commitment of a full course. After a basic introduction to enamel (glass powder) sifting and...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (17)

Register today

Enameling I

Discover the ancient art of fusing glass to metal which is called enameling. This Introductory class is designed to teach the why’s and how’s of the medium. Not only...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (18)

Register today

Enamel Open Studio Hours

Enamel Open Studio Hours are the perfect opportunity to practice the skills and share community with others who enamel. Enameling Faculty will be present to answer questions,...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (19)

Register today

Continuing Enameling

Work with master enamel artist, Judy Stone, to further develop the skills We will go over some of the basics learned in Enameling l. We will learn about enamel testing to better...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (20)

Register today

Plique-a-Jour: Stained Glass Enameling

Plique-à-jour (open to light) is the most admired of the French enameling techniques. Enamel is fired into a backless frame, creating a luminous effect similar to looking through a...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (21)

Register today

A Primer in 3-D Enameling

Explore how to construct and then enamel dimensional metal forms with Judy Stone in this introductory one-day workshop. We will work with soft copper sheet, mesh, and copper wire,...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (22)

Register today

Torch Fired Enameling

Learn how to use the torch to fuse glass to metal! Working on copper, you will learn the basics of how the enamel medium works and how to fuse using the torch. We will go over...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (23)

Register today

Enamel Ornaments

Add a special touch to your holiday traditions with an enameled ornament of your own design. Using flat, precut copper shapes as a base, layer colored opaque glass in stenciled...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (24)

Register today

Art Clay with Color

Dip your toes into two new mediums in a single day! Metal art clay is a material in which fine particles of pure silver are bound with a non-toxic organic binder that creates a...

Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (25)

Register today

Color and Pattern – Stamped and Enameled Jewelry

Get a taste of both metalsmithing and enameling in this fun class! Students will start in the jewelry studio, where they will learn to pattern and texture metal. Then, we will...

SHOP ENAMELING

2022-03-28T12:07:07-07:00
Vitreous Enamel 101: Definition, Process, & How To Learn (2024)

FAQs

What is the process of vitreous enamel? ›

Vitreous enamel, also called porcelain enamel, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C (1,380 and 1,560 °F). The powder melts, flows, and then hardens to a smooth, durable vitreous coating. The word vitreous comes from the Latin vitreus, meaning "glassy".

What is the meaning of vitreous enamelled? ›

Vitreous enameling is the process of fusing glass to metal at high heat. In American English, “enamel” is sometimes referred to as the material on our teeth or glossy paint.

Is vitreous enamel safe to use? ›

Vitreous enamel is a safe non-toxic coating and the optimum material for a variety of uses.

What is enamel process? ›

Enameling is a process by which powdered glass is fused to a metal substrate at high heat. Enamels can be applied to glass, ceramics, and most commonly, metals. The application of enamels can add color to metals such as copper, silver, and gold.

What are the benefits of vitreous enamel? ›

Vitreous Enamel Benefits
  • Durable & Long Lasting.
  • Weather & Acid Resistant.
  • Heat & Fire Resistant.
  • Fade Resistant.
  • Graffiti Wipe Clean.
  • Colourful & Attractive.
  • Virtually Maintenance Free.
  • Long-life Guaranteed.

Is vitreous enamel the same as porcelain? ›

Porcelain enamel (Also called vitreous enamel, enamel on mild steel, ceramic steel or glass on steel) has been adopted by many different industries all over the world. It is nowadays used for providing a functional and/or decorative coating to a wide range of products, such as shown above.

What does vitreous mean in the eye? ›

The vitreous is the gel-like fluid that fills your eye. It's full of tiny fibers that attach to your retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye).

How thick are vitreous enamel panels? ›

Panels can be supplied in either heavy gauge (1.5 mm thick steel) or light gauge steel (less than 1.5 mm) depending on the project requirements. For best results, this system requires trims to cover the edges of the panels.

What are the three types of enamel? ›

The main types of enamel you can use are transparent, opalescent and opaque. Flux is a particular type of transparent enamel which is especially formulated to fit a specific metal, to be applied directly on top of the metal.

What is the safest cookware for your health? ›

“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.

Are vitreous enamel baking trays good? ›

Vitreous Enamel is a thin layer of glass fused to metal at high heat. As a result, the durability and heat resistance are notable features of this piece.

What cookware is 100% non-toxic? ›

Non-toxic cookware is any cookware made without the use of nonstick coatings, like PFAS. This means any cookware that is made of stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel—essentially any cookware that doesn't have a coating—is the least toxic product available on the market.

What does enamel do to your body? ›

Your enamel is the protective, outer covering of your tooth. It shields your tooth crown (the part you can see above your gums) from cavities and damage. Tooth enamel is incredibly durable. In fact, it's the hardest substance in your body — even harder than your bones.

How can I rebuild my enamel? ›

How to restore tooth enamel
  1. Practice good oral hygiene. It is always essential to practice good oral hygiene even if you do not see enamel erosion. ...
  2. Use fluoride treatment. ...
  3. Avoid harmful foods. ...
  4. Visit the dentist regularly.

What removes enamel? ›

It is best to use a latex paint remover, like Goof Off. This stuff is citrus based and although it takes a bit of time will usually do a good job. Acrylic enamels are most often used on metals and applied by spray. Wood surfaces with very smooth finishes might also be acrylic enamel.

What is the process of enameled glass? ›

Enamelled glass is made by applying enamel to glass, followed by drying and heat treatment. This process offers multiple options for meeting changing market demands while enabling enhanced freedom of design in terms of colours, patterns and applications.

What is the process of vitreous detachment? ›

The vitreous is the gel-like fluid that fills your eye. It's full of tiny fibers that attach to your retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye). As you get older, the fibers of your vitreous pull away from the retina. This is called vitreous detachment.

What is the process of enameled steel? ›

The enameling process entails applying and firing one or more layers of enamel on one or both sides of the suitable steel part. Successful enameling has two key characteristics: the good surface of the enamel to the steel, and good surface appearance after firing the enamel.

What is the process of baked enamel? ›

These glossy paints or varnishes are sprayed or painted on aluminum or steel. The finish is heated, or baked, at temperatures that reach at least 150 degrees in order for the oil or synthetic resin to bind and develop. The result is a dense finish that defends against the traditional wear and tear we see with metals.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Edmund Hettinger DC

Last Updated:

Views: 6436

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Edmund Hettinger DC

Birthday: 1994-08-17

Address: 2033 Gerhold Pine, Port Jocelyn, VA 12101-5654

Phone: +8524399971620

Job: Central Manufacturing Supervisor

Hobby: Jogging, Metalworking, Tai chi, Shopping, Puzzles, Rock climbing, Crocheting

Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.