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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 8122

Enameller

An enameller is a person who decorates metals — gold, silver, copper, steel, cast iron, platinum — by covering them with enamel made of coloured, powdered glass.

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Check yourself in a minute: enameller

Rate 5 of the 12 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

check quality of enamel

detect product defects

perform enamelling

ensure equipment availability

fire the surface

About enameller

The enameller prepares the surface for enamelling: cleaning the metal, taking off grease and oxides, and roughening the face where the enamel has to hold harder. The enamel itself is prepared too, which means grinding and washing the powdered glass and choosing the colour, because a powder looks different before firing than after it.

Enamelling means laying the powder on and firing it in a kiln until the glass melts and fuses to the metal. The enameller torches the surface, watches temperature and time, and in cloisonné or champlevé work fills cells made of wire or recesses cut into the metal. Successive layers go on separately.

After firing, the enameller works the metal polishing equipment and detects product faults: blisters, hairline cracks, chips at an edge, underfired patches. Metallising technologies are part of the knowledge, as are workplace health and safety rules.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a enameller.

1

Surface Preparation and Metal Processing

  • Clean and smooth metal surfaces using appropriate grinding and polishing equipment to ensure enamel adhesion
  • Inspect metal substrates for defects and prepare them for coating application
  • Select appropriate metal types based on design requirements and application specifications
2

Enamel Application

  • Mix coloured powdered glass enamel to precise specifications and desired consistency
  • Apply enamel coatings to metal surfaces using appropriate techniques and tools
  • Ensure even distribution and proper thickness of enamel layers for uniform finish
  • Document colour codes and enamel formulations used for each piece
3

Firing and Heat Treatment

  • Fire enamelled pieces in kilns at precise temperatures to fuse enamel with metal base
  • Monitor kiln temperatures and firing times to achieve optimal enamel fusion and colour development
  • Cool fired pieces appropriately to prevent thermal shock and cracking
4

Quality Control and Inspection

  • Inspect finished pieces for colour uniformity, adhesion, and surface defects
  • Detect and document product defects such as chips, cracks, or uneven coating
  • Maintain quality standards and ensure all pieces meet specifications before delivery
5

Equipment Management and Safety

  • Maintain and operate metal polishing and grinding equipment safely and effectively
  • Ensure proper storage and handling of enamel powders and coating substances
  • Follow health and safety protocols including proper ventilation and personal protective equipment use

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (12)

health and safety in the workplacehealth and safety in the workplaceThe body of rules, procedures and regulations related to safety, health and welfare of people in their workplace.coating substancescoating substancesThe various types of coating, providing a workpiece with one or more finishing layers of resins, powders, inactive and insoluble fillers, waxes, gums, plasticisers, colouring materials, lacquer, and o...metal smoothing technologiesmetal smoothing technologiesThe various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces.metal coating technologiesmetal coating technologiesThe various processes and technologies used for to coating and painting fabricated metal workpieces.check quality of enamelcheck quality of enamelAssess enamel by using a needle. If defective, remove it and repeat the enamel process.detect product defectsdetect product defectsReport in case the product arrives with a defect from previous processes. Understand the type of defect and send it to the right person.perform enamellingperform enamellingApply enamel paint on surface using brushes.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.fire the surfacefire the surfaceUse stainless steel mesh and place the painted piece in the kiln, oven or furnace in order to melt the colour and let it flow.operate metal polishing equipmentoperate metal polishing equipmentOperate equipment designed to buff and polish metal workpieces, such as diamond solutions, silicon-made polishing pads, or working wheels with a leather polishing strop, and others.prepare surface for enamellingprepare surface for enamellingRemove any grease, oil grime or dust from the surface and make the enamelling area of even thickness in order to achieve even colour distribution while firing.prepare the enamelprepare the enamelCreate the enamel by crushing enamel lumps and grind into powder using mortar and pestel. Use the required quantities and colours and make sure there aren't any impurities.
Optional (19) — show
trends in fashiontrends in fashionNew developments and trends in the world of fashion.characteristics of precious metalscharacteristics of precious metalsVariations of precious metals according to density, corrossion resistance, electrical conductivity, light reflectivity and quality.jewellery processesjewellery processesMaterials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.watches and jewellery productswatches and jewellery productsThe offered watches and jewellery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.jewellery product categoriesjewellery product categoriesCategories in which various types of jewellery can be found such as diamond fashion jewellery or diamond bridal jewellery.company policiescompany policiesThe set of rules that govern the activity of a company.use jewellery equipmentuse jewellery equipmentHandle, modify, or repair jewellery-making equipment such as jigs, fixtures, and hand tools such as scrapers, cutters, gougers, and shapers.work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.trade in jewellerytrade in jewelleryBuy and sell jewellery, or serve as an intermediate between potential buyers and sellers.use color matching techniquesuse color matching techniquesApply specific techniques in order to match different colours.smoothen rough jewel partssmoothen rough jewel partsSmoothen rough parts of pieces of jewellery using hand files and emery paper.create jewellerycreate jewelleryCreate pieces of jewellery using precious materials such as silver and gold.attend to detail regarding jewellery creationattend to detail regarding jewellery creationPerform great attention to all steps in the design, creation and finishing of jewellery.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.ensure conformance to jewel design specificationsensure conformance to jewel design specificationsExamine finished jewellery products to ensure that they meet quality standards and design specifications. Use magnifying glasses, polariscopes or other optical instruments.develop jewellery designsdevelop jewellery designsDevelop new jewellery designs and products, and modify existing designs.think creatively about jewellerythink creatively about jewelleryGenerate innovative and creative ideas to design and decorate jewellery.clean jewellery piecesclean jewellery piecesClean and polish metal items and pieces of jewellery; handle mechanical jewellery-making tools such as polishing wheels.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.

Related Occupations

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Frequently asked questions

What does an enameller do?

Enamellers embellish metals such as gold, silver, copper, steel, cast iron or platinum by painting it. The enamel they apply, consists of coloured powdered glass.

What skills does an enameller need?

An enameller needs 12 essential skills, including health and safety in the workplace, coating substances, metal smoothing technologies, metal coating technologies, check quality of enamel.

Will AI replace enameller jobs?

The AI disruption score for enameller is 28/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep records of work progress, ensure equipment availability, company policies. Most resilient: smoothen rough jewel parts, prepare surface for enamelling, watches and jewellery products.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupStationary plant and machine operators
Essential Skills12

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