The Artist's Assistant, In the Study and Practice of Mechanical Sciences: Calculated for the Improvement of Genius. Illustrated with Copper-Plates (Birmingham, [ca. 1785])

13S THE ARTIST'S ASSISTANT,

For ENAMEL GROUNDS.

f~pHE matter of the enamel muft be firft finely le-
vigated and feavced : and the bodv to be enamel-
led fhould be made perfectly clean. The enamel
mull be then laid on as even as pofhble by a brufh or
pencil, being firft tempered with oil of fpike ; and
the diftance of time betwixt the laying on the
ground and burning the piece fhould not be too
great; becaufe the oil will exhale, and leave the
matter of the enamel a dry incohering powder ;
which will be liable to be rubbed or fhaken off by
the leaft violence. This is the common method ;
but there is a much better way of managing this
part of the work by means of a fearce ;. in which
the enamel is fpread with very little trouble, and
the greateft part of the oil of fpike faved. The
method of performing this is, to rub the furface to
be enamelled over with oil of fpike; and then,
being laid on a fheet of paper, or piece of leather,
to fave that part of the enamel which does not fall
on a pioper objecl, to fearce the matter upon the
oiled lurface till it lie of a proper thicknefs. But
great care muft be taken in this method of proceed-
ing, not to fhake or move too forcibly the pieces of
wcik thus covered with the powdered enamel.

It is ufual to add oil of turpentine to the oils of
fpike or lavender, in order to make them go fur-
ther, and fave the expencc attending the free ufe of
them ; arid others add alio a little olive or linfeed
oil, or lome, in the place of them, crude turpen-
tine. The ufe of the fpirit of turpentine is very
allowable ; for it is the farne for this purpofe as the

oils