These "paints," which like traditional stained glass paints are actually finely ground glass particles with a relatively low melting point, are available in both transparent and opaque colors. They are applied, and then fired onto the glass using a kiln.
Because glass enamels are made of tiny glass particles, care must be taken to ensure that they are compatible with the base glass being painted on. As with any other glass, using incompatible enamel will result in cracking or poor adhesion.
Care must also be taken when using glass enamels that the fine particles are not inhaled. A respirator or mask is recommended to prevent this, as inhaling fine glass particles can cause silicosis, a serious and potentially fatal lung condition.
There are a number of ways in which glass enamels may be applied, but in most cases the enamels are applied and fired in several layers. This maintains the integrity of the colors and also helps to achieve effects that would not be possible in a single firing. It is not uncommon for enamels to require four or five or more firings before the work is complete.
The most common ways to apply glass enamels are by brush, by dry sifting the enamels onto the glass, and by screen-printing.
** Brush application
To apply enamels with a brush, you must first mix the glass particles with a liquid (called a "medium") to obtain a paint-like consistency. Mediums may be oil or water-based, but water-based mediums have the advantage of generally being safer and easier to clean up. The key criterion is that the medium fires clear without leaving a residue.
The proper consistency for painting is approximately one part enamel to two parts medium, but this can vary depending on the particular enamels used. It is a good idea to mix the paints on a smooth surface (a sheet of window glass is ideal), adding the water drop by drop until the desired consistency is reached. Sometimes the paint will dry out a bit during painting and you will need to add a few extra drops of water.
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