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Why is powdered enamel washed in distilled water before it is applied to metal?
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Enamelwork
Standing dish depicting Samson crushing the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass, enamel on copper by Pierre Courteys, c. 1580; in the Taft Museum of Art, Cincinnati, Ohio. Height 9.8 cm, diameter 22.9 cm.
In the process of enamelwork, powdered enamel must be washed in distilled water to remove all "floury particles" from the mixture.1
This step is essential because, after the enamel cake is pulverized into a powder, these fine, dust-like particles can interfere with the quality of the application. By washing the powder until these particles are cleared away, the craftsman ensures a cleaner, more consistent material before it is spread onto the metal base and fired in the furnace.1