Thompson Enamels

Thompson Enamels are lead-free glass products available in various particle sizes and formulated to fit a variety of metal and glass substrates, These products are described in terms of temperature and expansion to help you select a suitable enamel for your particular project. .The best way to select an enamel is to determine their properties in the following sequence:

1. Fusing temperature
2. Fit or compatibility
3. Colour.

It is important to pre-test enamels prior to using:
1. printed colour charts do not always perfectly match the product they represent and
2. there may be slight variations in the character of any given enamel from batch to batch.

80 mesh enamel is the standard particle size available to our customers unless specified otherwise. 80 mesh is glass ground to a particle size which is slightly finer than granulated sugar. It is normally applied by sifting, but can also be mixed with water and charged onto the substrate surface.

6/20 mesh enamels are particles that have an average diameter of about 1/16” to 1/8”. These particles are ideal for bead making. Lump enamels are particles that range from 1/16”to 1“ in diameter. A variety of painting and liquid enamels are also available for specific substrates listed in the Thompson catalogue.

For expanded information about the products and the technology involved to use them, see the description of the Thompson Enamel Workbook.

All Thompson enamel products are numbered to a practical code numbering system which indicates enamel type and color. This coding can be easily seen by examining our colour charts. The thousands number indicates enamel type while the hundreds number indicates the colour. The final two numbers indicate how light or dark that colour is. For example, 1505 is an opaque pastel greenish blue for copper, and 2680 is a transparent dark blue for copper.

Product Safety Information

All of Thompson’s enamel products are glass of one form or another. Care should be taken not to ingest them. These products, however, can be used quite safely if you adhere to the following housekeeping and hygiene rules:

Rule 1: Keep your work area neat and clean. Keep your clothing clean.

Rule 2: Use your enamels in a well ventilated work area. Wear a protective dust mask if you are working with enamel powders for an extended period of time.

Rule 3: Wash your hands prior to eating. Do not smoke or handle food when you are working with enamels.

Please call 00-1-859.291.3800 if more specific information on any particular product is required. Fax: 00-1-859.291.1849.

Food Contact Surfaces

Thompson does not recommend the use of their enamels for food contact surfaces. Although they are very acid resistant and do not contain lead, their final food safe properties may depend on enamel application and firing. Each such item made from them should be individually tested to determine whether or not it passes current F.D.A. regulations. This process would probably be too costly for the average artist.