Or you can make your own embossing plate by bending 24 ga.
You can use found materials like lace or leaf skeletons for the embossing plate as long as the depth of the object is no more than 1.5/64th of an inch. The heavier Ginbari foil can even be embossed. You can also decorate foil by painting or silk screening designs on it with overglaze painting enamels. If you have difficulty keeping the layers from sliding, use paper clips, mini clips or staples in strategic locations outside of the design area to keep the layers in place. You can cut multiples of a shape at one time by layering the paper and foil. However thicker paper such as copy paper is better for punching. Tracing paper works well because it is thin and you can see through it to see where the foil is placed. It is important to know that anytime you are manipulating foil you need to keep it between pieces of paper. Often enamelists cut the foil to fit a cell in cloisonné but you can also cut it into more elaborate shapes and/or punch shapes out of it using paper punches. Manipulation: There are many ways to use the foil enamelist. You know that it is annealed if it drapes easily and doesn’t make a harsh rustling sound when you shake it. If the pieces of foil touch they might melt together when fired. If you need to anneal more than one piece of foil at a time, sandwich them between pieces of mica or lava cloth. Place it on a clean piece of mica or lava cloth. Gold foil is porous by nature and does not need to be pierced.Īnnealing: Annealing heavy silver foil for enamelist makes it easier to work with especially if you need it to conform to a curved surface. When you peel off the foil, hold it up to a light and you will be able to see light shining through the tiny holes. Or fold the sandpaper in half, put the foil in between and tap with a rubber mallet. The easiest way to do this is to lay it on a sheet of 220 sandpaper, cover it with a piece of felt and roll a brayer or a rolling pin over it once or twice. I think the thicker Ginbari foil from Japan should be pierced. Others don’t believe this is necessary with the thinner foils. Piercing: Many enamelists pierce the foil for enamelist with small pin holes in order to avoid blisters forming under the foil when it’s fired. Often they are used to add more brilliance to the transparent enamel overcoat or to prevent unfavorable metal/enamel reactions but can also be used for other design purposes. Gold and silver foil are the most commonly used. Foil for enamelist is something we all need to examine to be able to use them successfully in our jewels, and Coral has written a great article here for us!Įnameling foils, heavier than leaf but thinner than aluminum foil, are often used for special effects in enameling.
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