Making a test plate by Merry-Lee Rae
I find that testplates are a necessary tool in an enameling studio. I like to know what my fired colors are going to look like before I include them in a piece I am working on. I test over Opaque white, over copper, over flux on silver, directly on silver and directly on 24K gold. This gives my so much information about each color. Some enamellists like having individual testplates for each color. My preference is many colors on the same test.
Sift flux on front, not too thick. Fire at 1550 for three minutes. Cool, scrub up back. Heavy coat of flux for counter enamel. Other enamel choices are ok. Fire at 1550. Stone off edges in between each firing from now on.
Using Klyrfire, apply silver foil to the 1/2” columns (I like Ginbari) and gold foil to the 1/4” columns. Let dry and fire at 1400 for 3 minutes.
Using P3 or similar and crow quill pen write the color numbers on the opaque white columns. Don’t fire it yet.
Wash silver flux and wet pack on 1/2 of the strips of silver foil. In this case I used G110 as I will be testing Nihon Shippo colors. Fire at 1400 for 3 minutes
Gigantic! Japanese Fine Silver Foil Approximately 9" X 9" 1.5-1.8 microns (230cm x 230cm)
Because of the size, it will be shipped separately from the rest of your order.
We were very lucky to have been able to have these made for us.
$124.65/ pack of 5
$562 / book of 25
$2125 / book of 100
Made especially for us in Japan, this foil is thinner than Ginbari and very slightly thicker than the US made silver foil that we used to carry
Because it is 81 square inches ($0.31 per square inch) as opposed to the 16 square inches ($1.01 per square inch) in a 4”x4” in our old silver foil, this is a unbelievable bargain.
These are handmade so some may have rounded corners and size will vary slightly, you will see in the photo the irregularity on the edge. The thickness will vary a tiny bit from 1.5 to 1.8 microns. You may see an occasional tear but in packaging, we have not found any with tears except tiny ones on the edges..
Save 10% when you order a full book of 25 sheets.
Save 15% when you order a full book of 100 sheets.
Fine Silver "Ginbari" Foil 5" X 4 3/16" 4.5 microns thick
$56.70 / pack of 5
$255.15 book of 25
$963.90 book of 100
This is the amazing thick Japanese foil that is what everyone is talking about! It works well for cutting or punching out shapes as well as for embossing. Simply the best foil for enameling applications. Book of 25 price includes $4.45 for postal insurance.
Save 10% when you order a book of 25 sheets.
Save 15% when you order a book of 100 sheets.
Fine Silver “EAS (Enamel Art Supply)" Foil 5" X 4 3/16" 10 microns thick
$29.25 for single sheet, $131.65/ book of 5, $621.60 / book of 25
We are having this foil made for us in Japan by the company that makes the Ginbari Foil. It is 10 microns thick making in more than twice as thick as the Ginbari. Can be embossed like nothing else available. Also can be annealed.
For free tutorials on how to use this foil, go to Tips and Tricks in Merry-Lee’s Classroom https://merryleerae.thinkific.com/courses/tips-and-tricks-i-will-be-adding-to-this-all-the-time
Japanese Fine Silver Foil Approximately 5" X 5" 1.5-1.8 microns
Sale prices July 2026!
$80.50/ pack of 5
$362.25 / book of 25
$1368 / book of 100
Made especially for us in Japan, this foil is thinner than ginbari and very slightly thicker than the US made silver foil that we used to carry
Because it is 25 square inches ($0.65 per square inch) as opposed to the 16 square inches ($1.01 per square inch) in a 4”x4” in our old silver foil, this is a great bargain.
These are handmade so some may have rounded corners and size will vary slightly, you will see in the photo the irregularity on the edge. The thickness will vary a tiny bit from 1.5 to 1.8 microns. You may see an occasional tear but in packaging, we have not found any with tears except tiny ones on the edges..
Save 10% when you order a full book of 25 sheets.
24K Gold Foil 4" X 4"
$91.90 / 1 sheet
$435.95 / book of 5 ($430+ $5.95 insurance)
This 24K foil is made in the US and is heavier than anything else we tried, stays bright when fired.
1.4 microns
Book of 5 price includes $5.95 for postal insurance.