BATH ENAMELLING
More background information
- Video
- Video of cast iron bath manufacturing
- Video of lost wax casting
- Video of chinaware manufacturing
- Bathroom design
- Victorian bathroom design
- Create an art deco bathroom suite
- How to restore your bathroom
- Nine Reasons not to restore your bathroom
- Door furniture
- The secrets behind buying traditional door knobs
- The lost wax process
- Bathroom techniques
- Bath casting
- Bath enamelling
- Bath finishing
- External links
The only company in the world to offer
dry frit vitreous enamelling
Drummonds is the only company in the world to use dry frit vitreous enamel the way the Victorians did. This method results in an incredibly hard, durable enamel, with gentle undulations and a snow white finish.
The machinery, furnace and enamelling booth have all been designed to Drummonds’ own specifications, allowing the company to combine traditional manufacturing methods with today’s modern quality standards.
Below, we take you step by step through the process of enamelling a Drummonds’ bath using this traditional method.
We also have a video of the cast iron bath manufacturing process on this site.
Step 1: Coating and heating
After shotblasting, the cast iron bath is inspected and cleaned before being coated with an enamel ground coat.
Once the ground coat is dry, the bath is heated until the iron becomes red hot. Experienced enamellers monitor the temperature in the furnace. This is a vital stage; if the bath is under heated the enamel will have a matt appearance, as opposed to a beautiful, glossy finish. If the bath is overheated pin holes can appear in the enamel.
The ground coat bonds with the iron when hot. It is this powerful bond that allows Drummonds to provide a 25 year guarantee with its baths
Step 2: Enamelling – Unique dry frit process
The red hot bath is placed into a rotating and rocking cradle, to be sprinkled with the first layer of dry enamel frit (powdered glass).
The enamel is sprinkled on to the rim and interior simultaneously by two highly skilled operators, ensuring an even coating throughout.
Step 3: Cooling and inspecting
This process is repeated until the bath has had up to five coats of enamel. It is then allowed to cool in a protective shelter, to avoid dust and contamination.
Further testing and inspections take place to check the thickness of the enamel and for any blemishes.
Re-enamelling original cast iron baths
The same process is used when re-enamelling an old bath. The bath is stripped back via shotblasting and enamelled using the same method described above.
The bath is guaranteed for 25 years.
Finishing a bath is the next stage of the process
del.icio.us