The first thing is to produce a flux to fuse at a moderate heat, which, by flowing upon the plate, forms a uniform surface for the white or colored enamels to work upon.
Flux for Enameled Iron.—
| White lead | 10 parts |
| Ball clay | 1 part |
| Flint glass | 10 parts |
| Whiting | 1 part |
The plates may then be coated with any of the following mixtures, which may either be spread on as a powder with a little gum, as in the case of the flux, or the colors may be mixed with oil and the plates dipped therein when coated; the plate requires heating sufficiently to run the enamels bright.
Soft Enamels for Iron, White.—
| Flint glass | 16 parts |
| Oxide of tin | 1 1/2 parts |
| Niter | 1 1/2 parts |
| Red lead | 4 parts |
| Flint or china clay | 1 part |
Black.—
| Red oxide of iron | 1 1/4 parts |
| Carbonate of cobalt | 1 1/4 parts |
| Red lead | 6 parts |
| Borax | 2 parts |
| Lynn sand | 2 parts |
Yellow Coral.—
| Chromate of lead | 1 part |
| Red lead | 2 3/4 parts |
| Flint | 1 part |
| Borax | 1/4 part |