Posted by Mike Jackson on March 07, 2004
Here's another little gem in the Atkinson book.
"Making Smalt: Use clear white beach sand and have perfectly dry. For black smalt use Lamp Black in Japan, toned deep with Prussian Blue. Add in a little Quick Rubbing Varnish and break and thin with gasoline. Starte coloring the saning five pound lots, and start by keeping sand in motion, addin the color the while, when sand is stained the desired shade dry by "tossing" it against an inclinded screen (common wire screen). Keep it in motion until it no longer adheres together, then sift three or four times and it will b ready for use.
For light colored smalts, such as vermilion, pale green, tan, yello, old gold, etc., make the "cutting in" color about the same color as the smalts used, i.e., neutral in tone. Whil the neutrality is not imperative it is more workmanlike and gives the smalted ground a more solid look."
Sounds like quite a bit of work, but maybe worth it for a special color.
Mike Jackson
Denver Chapter of the Letterheads