Page 207 - My FlipBook

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PORCELAIN INLAYS 191

the powder and liquid together, but any vigorous
rubbing with a metal spatula must be avoided, for
this is likely to change the colour of the inlay.
The writer, by vigorous use of a pure nickel spatula,
has produced some almost blue-black inlays. Plat-
inum vigorously used will make the inlay from
a dii'ty grey to a slate colour, while pure gold will
produce a pink shade.
In placing the inlay body in the matrix there are
several typical methods. One is to build up to
exact contour each time, filling up all spaces and de-
pressions caused by shrinkage during fusion. An-
other is to fill up to contour, but keep the margins
free, and then, after filling up all spaces and fusing
to a fairly even level, to build up high in the centre
and allow the heaped -up body to flow down to
exact contour and up to the margins. A third
way is to paint a very thin mix evenly all over the
matrix, just up to the margins, and fuse this. The
matrix is thus covered with a thin film of the fused
body. Another thin layer is applied and fused
then the matrix is filled in a concave manner, and
the body fused. This goes on, always painting
from the centre up to the margin, until the inlay
is level with the margin. Contour is then gradually
built up and fused layer by layer until the inlay is
completed. The first method means that care has