The Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, De-Enameling and Other Myths

摘要

Up until quite recently if asked "How do you remove enamel from silver?" the answer was "with great difficulty." The methods available were not particularly helpful. Thermal shock involves heating the piece and then dropping it into cold water. It will remove some, but not all the enamel. Grinding off the enamel with diamond drill bits chews up the silver and leaves your piece a mangled mess. The only other method I knew of involved the use of highly corrosive and dangerous acids. So, when asked how to precede my advice was always, "Learn to love whatever you got". And then I received a very enlightening email from Priscilla Vasso. She had learned a simple and effective way of removing enamel from master engraver Gilberto Mazzotti of Brazil, and she was kind enough to share it. Finally, after years of experimentation, de-enameling is no longer a myth! Can the Loch Ness monster be far behind?