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I would like to use cold enamel in silver but read in Kathie Murphy's "Resin Jewellery" that both the resin and the silver may discolour over time unless the silver is protected. No solution is offered so does anyone know any more about this? Would fine silver have the same effect? Is there something I should paint on first that won't react with either the silver or the cold enamel (Cookson's brand). Any advice welcome!
provided the seal is perfect and no air can reach the silver, then there shouldn't be any problems. I regularly make pieces with resin (the same Chemset variety that Cookies stock) and sterling and have yet to have any issues.
Fine silver is an option (as it is for vitreous enamelling) as it is not as susceptible to tarnishing, though it can still discolour over time.
Jeweller friends of mine who set transparent, pale-coloured stones in silver often get the inside of the setting rhodium plated first. Rhodium doesn't tarnish, and keeps its bright appearance. Perhaps this might work with cold enamel?
Nina
www.ninagale.weebly.com
Thank you for posting that, Nina, theres no doubt that translucnt stones set in silver get to look more cruddy with time. Even so it's a difficult decision to lay out money elsewhere for a long term fix. Maybe for short runs this could be done with a plating pen. Alternatively it improves matters to leave the back of the mount open. Kind regards, Dennis
Some resins will discolour in sunlight too ~ it's not even always the silver reacting with the resin. :(
Would it be possible to use enamel on your piece instead?
If you haven't got a kiln you could always torch fire it (trivet method firing from below)
I tend to use resins when I need a good red or if I'm applying it over a photo or fabric insert
how are you using it in your design - is there another option?
Nic x