Perform basic vitreous enamelling
Overview
This standard covers the skills related to the uses of hand tool applications to carry out enamelling. Work includes basic enamelling and simple carving techniques on flat surfaces to achieve relief for enamel and patterns. You will practice different techniques such as flat surface enamelling and counter enamelling as well as exploring methods like dry sifting, wet packing and liquid enamels.
In producing enamelled products, you will be required to work to instructions and to use a range of hand tools and a variety of techniques, appropriate to the style of enamelling.
During, and on completion of, the enamelling, you will be expected to visually check the quality of your work. You will need to report and seek guidance on any defects, the appropriate action to rectify them, and to ensure that the finished work meets the given specification which may include timescales.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- research hand-tooled methods of enamelling for a range of applications in line with own professional development needs
- select a range of enamelling techniques for different projects **in line with workplace instructions
- interpret enamel design drawings and specification in line with workplace instructions
- use a range of tools to achieve specific outcomes in line with project needs
- perform simple carving techniques in line with project needs
- use the kiln for vitreous enamelling in line with workplace instructions
- seek support and guidance when problems arise in line with workplace instructions
- check the work for defects in line with project needs
- take action to rectify any defects detected in line with workplace instructions
- complete the work to the given specification in line with workplace instructions
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- safety precautions to be taken when vitreous enamelling
- enamelling terminology
- the differences between opaque, transparent, and opalescent enamel
- how to interpret drawings and specifications
- the importance of carrying out work in a particular sequence
- tools and their applications
- health & safety procedures for maintaining usage and storage of chemicals
- range of enamelling techniques
- carving techniques used in enamelling
- how to check that the enamelling meets the needs of the specification
- who to ask for support and when to do so
- the importance of following the given specification and timescales
- common defects and ways to rectify these
Scope/range
1. Methods of enameling can include:
- dry sifting
- wet packing
- liquid enamels
2. Types of enamelling techniques:
- flat surface enamelling
- counter enamelling