Signs of the Times for the Good Ol' U.S. of A.???...

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

A recent discovery in my new line of work gave me an outlet, not only a way to satisfy the artistic side, but a chance at delving into an all but lost art...
Tinsmithing... Something sheetmetal workers just don't do anymore.
I figured I'd try my hand at making an ash bucket for use in dutch oven cooking and was doing a search on the wired edge proccess. (Tinsmiths used this technique when making buckets and tubs to give the rim more strength)
I stumbled upon something real cool... Google is now scanning expired copyrighted material from libraies around the world and it's available for free downloading!!!
I downloaded several books on tinsmithing that are over 100 years old.
Pouring over this all but lost material, I became excited about the items I could make, besides an ash bucket.
Before long, I was searching out sources for the porcelain enamel frits used to make enamelware/graniteware.
I do have a background in glass and glazing, still have a kiln to play with...
I became very dumbfounded when my searches for frits lead me to one place...
China!!!
Kinda sobering.

[Classic Finn]

Dean

In Stockholm, Sweden they still have the old fashioned Barrel Makers.
Also here in Finland there are a few that still make them as well. As you say its a dying Craft. Made of both Tin and Wood.

Its interesting to see how they are made.

Classic Finn

[edlfrey]

Dean,

There is a good market for tinsmith prtoducts in the re-enactment crowd. Authentic reproductions are highly sought after for Civil War Period for sure!
A great opportunity for the hobby-business.

[Gaston]

hi Dean
don't know if what you are looking for is glass frit, if it is try a search on bullsye glass. my wife uses their glass and frits in her
kiln glass and beads

[swissarmygirl]

Sounds like a fun new hobby. I love those!

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Gaston,
I'm trying to find the porcelain enamel frits.
I know about the Bullseye glass frits, they fire at a lower temp... Need the high fire stuff.
BTW- Just seeking info at this point in time...

[Micro469]

Dean, like to hear more on Google's scanning of old material.. How do you find it ? Is there a list of stuff that they are scannining?

And what the heck is "frits"????

[Nitetimes]

Dean, like to hear more on Google's scanning of old material.. How do you find it ? Is there a list of stuff that they are scannining?

And what the heck is "frits"????

John, both good questions!!!! Me too!

[robfisher]

A friend of mine wire beaded the edge of my aluminum Kenskill fenders for me. They came out beautiful and are much stronger than without the bead. He had an old hand crank beading machine and it only took him a little while for the fenders.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

John and Rich,
Go to Google and look at the list of choices at the top of the page.
Click on "MORE" and select BOOKS from the drop down menu.
Do a search and books conaining what you've searched for will be shown.
Note: Not all books are out of copyright and downloadable. The eaziest way is find them is to look at the dates shown for when the book was published.

Frits are ground up vitrious materials and can contain other materials as well, like iron oxides and different metals. In most cases, they are mixed with water or different oils to become an applyable liquid. Sometimes you also need to add a vehicle, like gum arabic, to get them to adhere to what you are applying them to. They are then fired in a kiln to fuse then to whatever you're applying them to.

Rob,
That's cool, we have the old equipment also and there is only one guy in the shop that still knows how to use it... He just happens to be my online instructor as well.

[Joseph]

Actually, there are several people doing it. IMHO Peter Goebel and Carl Giordano are the best tinsmiths out there since Dale the Tinker died. Carl did the tinware for the HBO min-series "John Adams" and Peter made the little copper mugs used in "Muppet Treasure Island." I have several items from both of them.

Joseph