[Jewelry making - Article 00315] - Re: [Orchid] Enameled cab crack after setting

[mjoat]

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    I have not done much enameling for setting in a strip bezel pressed
    down on the enamel cab. But I have read enough to know that the
    enamel being glass fused to a metal. If you put it in a stressful
    state sooner or later it will crack split or completely shatter.
    Just as a small speck under a sheet of glass that is being cut can
    cause the glass to crack in a wild manner and direction. 

    When you are using the bezel setter/rounder or what the tool of
    choice is to fold the bezel over to hold the cab in place if you
    press to hard on one side area and not enough some place else. Or if
    you Go-rrilla it down all the way around to hold it in place. Since
    the enamel layered and fused on the surface of the copper maybe
    thicker or thinner as it was applied the stress will be unequal from
    the bezel pressing on the fused enamel. The stresses that are set up
    will cause a failure sooner or later. 

>     Margaret Seeler suggests that each enameling blank should have a
>     1/32-inch flange around it.

    From your other post. This would be the almost perfect solution. The
    metals edge would provide one with the perfect uniform stable holding
    platform. As long as you roll the bezel over with a steady pressure
    around the edge the enamel shouldn't be placed under any undue
    strain. 

    The enamel shouldn't crack from the bezel placing stress on top of
    the fused glass. And if your enameled cab have been done properly
    and cooled correctly. They will out last us all. Here are two very
    good sources for info on enameling. 

    http://www.thompsonenamel.com 
    http://www.glass-on-metal.com 

    The ask the expert in the glass on metal site do respond in a timely
    manner. And the catalog on line can answer alot of the newbies
    questions on enameling 24/7 after all they wrote the book on
    enameling as it were :) 

glen been there done that and scrapped it!
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