3D Enameling: Cloisonné Beads!

The following supplies will be used for course demonstrations and objectives. A suggested item and/or vendor has been provided below for reference. Click the vendor name to be redirected to a page where you can view the item. The quantities needed for each item are listed first. If ordering, please be aware that some items may come in larger quantities than needed for this class. We recommend not opening an item's packaging until the day of the workshop. Student participation during or in-between class sessions is not required - observers are welcome.

Metal/raw materials (NOTE if students want to make their own spheres, they will need to get their own sheet metal to form them): 

• 1 min. x RCB-2 copper bead ¾” sphere (Thompson)

• 10cm min. x sterling tubing - 2.5mm (Rio Grande)

• 3ft x cloisonné wire - 38g 0.050" x 0.004" (Rio Grande)

• 4-5 x opaque Thompson enamels - 1oz containers

Torch setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x soldering surface - for spheres or findings (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x torch - Smith mini, Silversmith, or butane (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x #0 or #1 torch tip - if getting Silversmith (Rio Grande)

• 1 x striker or lighter - Silversmith system has one (Rio Grande)

• 1 x cross lock tweezers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pickle - sodium bisulfate or citric acid (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x brass bristle brush (Rio Grande)

• 1 x crock pot or lidded glass container (Rio Grande or Amazon)

• 1 x tempered glass container or sink - for quenching and rinsing

• 1 x small brush - for flux

• 1 x liquid hand soap - for cleaning metal

Kiln setup:

• 1 x fireproof area - steel sheet, tiles, etc. (Amazon or Home Depot)

• 1 x kiln - mini or full size (Rio Grande or Rio Grande)

• 1 x sifter set - 60, 100, 150 mesh (Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x steel screen - for your kiln size  (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x firing fork / spatula (Rio Grande or Enamel Warehouse)

• 1 x tongs or tweezers - for moving hot objects (Rio Grande)

• 1 x copper tongs - for pickle (Rio Grande)

• 2 x lightweight firing rack – 3”x3” flat (Thompson)

• 2 min. x stainless steel rod - such as bike spoke (Amazon or bike shop)

• 1oz x 2040 hard fusing clear flux (Cool Tools)

• 1 x medium sifter - 150 mesh (Thompson)

• 1 x squeegee oil (Cool Tools)

• 1 x spray mister bottle (Amazon)

• 1 x palette knife / mini trowel (Blick)

• 1 x alundum stone - 150 grit (Thompson)

• 1 x flexible diamond hand lap - yellow 400 grit (Cool Tools)

• 1 x pack of plastic container with lids - 1/4" (Blick)

• 1floz x blu stic (Thompson)

• 1 x very fine brush - 10/0 or 20/0

• sink or large tub of water - for cleaning enamel

Hand tools:

• 1 x round nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x chain nose pliers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x snips / flush cutters (Rio Grande)

• 1 x jewelers saw (Rio Grande)

• 1 x pack saw blades - 2/0 (Rio Grande)

• 1 x burlife / bee's wax (Rio Grande)

• 1 x bench pin (Rio Grande)

• 1 x half round hand file - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x rotary tool - flex shaft, micro motor, etc. (Rio Grande)

• 1 x set of needle files - #2 cut (Rio Grande)

• 1 x center punch (Rio Grande) 

• 1 x scribe (Rio Grande)

• 1 x riveting hammer (Rio Grande)

• 1 x steel block / steel surface (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sheet of sand paper - 220 to 600 grits (Amazon)

• 1 x calipers (Amazon)

• 1 x dividers (Rio Grande)

• 1 x sanding sticks (Rio Grande)

• 1 x dapping set - steel (Rio Grande)

Other/miscellaneous items: 

• hard work surface

• fan and open window - or ventilation system

• safety glasses 

• pencil, fine Sharpie, notebook

• rags/towels

• absorbent paper towel

• containers of water 

• dust mask