Scarva Liquid Metals & Lustres LML45 Bronze  £21.00

Lustres have dissolved metals as their essential component. They are mainly applied by brush on porcelain or ceramic objects and are always applied to already fired and glazed objects. Before firing, the objects must be left to dry for a few hours in a warm, dust-free place.

Recommended firing temperatures are:

Glass: 500°C-600°C, Orton cone SSB 022-021

Ceramics: 690°C-700°C, Orton cone SSB 018

Porcelain: 750°C-815°C, Orton cone SSB 017-015

How to apply and use:

These products are ready-to-use and are generally of a gluey, dark brown liquid aspect. Use a smooth brush. The pieces to be decorated must be well cleaned and bone dry. Gold, platinum and some lustres like copper and bronze do not need to be diluted. The brush must neither be too heavily-laden nor too little-laden and the layer applied must be uniform and fine. Too thick a layer causes burning or clouding during the firing. The other lustres can be diluted with an appropriate thinner at more or less 10%. The Mother of Pearl Iris lustre needs to be diluted at 15% at least (it burns more easily than the others if applied in thick layers. Burnt Iris results in a white powder and does not adhere). Precision scales are recommended when diluting in order to maintain the same fluidity and shade of colour.

Please note that the information provided is for guidance only. Different application methods and different firing conditions will affect results.

NOTE: Before using these products on a large scale we advise you to try a preliminary test.

Good quality brushes should be used and these are available in various shapes and sizes according to use, either for lining, banding or tracing. Brushes used exclusively for liquid precious metals should be kept separate, clean and free from dust. After use they should be cleaned with Lustre Thinners. To prepare the brush for painting, it should be dipped into the liquid precious metal and worked on a smooth piece of glass or glazed ceramic tile until it is saturated. The brush should then be passed lightly over the surface in order to remove excess liquid precious metal and the hairs brought to a fine point in the case of a lining brush, or to a smooth edge for a banding brush.