[Ansteorra] Fwd: Actual Agate Mortars and Pestles for enamel painting

[Stefan li Rous]

I thought perhaps there were some folks doing enamel or metalwork on  
this list who might find this of use, if they haven't already seen  
this on their A&S lists.

Stefan

Begin forwarded message:

> From: rmhowe <MMagnusM at bellsouth.net>
> Date: May 24, 2006 11:08:30 PM CDT
> To: - Dunstan <Dunstan at yahoogroups.com>, - EKMetalsmiths  
> <EKMetalsmiths at yahoogroups.com>, - Metallum_Lochac  
> <Metallum_Lochac at yahoogroups.com.au>, - SCA-ARTS  
> <artssciences at lists.gallowglass.org>
> Subject: Actual Agate Mortars and Pestles for enamel painting
>
>
> When I took multiple cloissone courses my teacher was
> very specific about needing an agate mortar and pestle
> to grind the 80 grit glass used for enamelling to something
> much finer, more in the 320 grit range. This is done to
> prepare the glass powder for painting with glass enamels.
>
> Anyway it took me five years to find an agate mortar and
> pestle [prohably because it didn't occur to me to look on
> eBay where one company sells them in fairly large lots].
> I kept looking at our local gemshows, up to six per year,
> and all I could find were softer ones. None of the suppliers
> I knew of carried them.
>
> When I bought one last night there were nineteen left in
> this particular lot and he had a second page up so I assume
> the dealer has more.
>
> Item title: Mortar and Pestle 3" Agate for Lab Shop Home Chalcedony
> Web address:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7414391856
> On eBay the dealer is known as Opticaspace.
>
> He also has some small crucibles, some of which are in the 4000°F
> range and some which are cheaper in the lower ranges.
> They might be good for mixing specific small amounts of metal
> alloys. Although Rio Grande, I have been informed, sells an
> Ancient Bronze mixture. The Romans and Celts regularly enameled
> on bronze brooches. I am hoping it will work with manganese
> bronze. Have some, will have to try it.
>
> OpticaSpace / AA Portable Power Corp
> 2700 Rydin Road C
> Richmond, CA 94804
> ebay at mtixtl.com
>
> Magnus

--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas           
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****