CRACKLE BASE clear 2008 TRANSPARENT ENAMEL
2 OUNCE JAR ~ 8 ounce also available ~

80 mesh medium temperature medium expansion
For copper, gold, and silver

HOW TO USE CRACKLE ENAMELS

Use either 1997 black, 1006 white or 2008 clear and fire it onto copper. Then you take regular 80 mesh enamel or liquid form powder and add a little water until it is mixed as thick as paint. Then sift the 80 mesh or brush or dip the liquid form enamel over the crackle base (1006, 1997, or 2008) and allow it to fully dry. Next, fire for 3 minutes, and you have a crackled surface!
Note: The crackle bases are 1006 white, 2008 clear, 1997 black. Those alone fire as ordinary enamels. You must apply the 80 mesh sifted enamels or liquid form enamels (buy in dry form and mix yourself) over those bases, and you get crackle. The items alone are just enamel; together they crackle. Crackle is a technique that happens when the 2 products are used together. Once you have the crackle surface, you can go over it with a transparent for some interesting-looking pieces.

What are the differences of Thompson’s transparent clear enamel (sometimes referred to as “flux”)?

2008 – A low expansion clear used as the base coat for the crackle technique when Liquid Form-Water Base enamels are used for the second coat. 2008 is also good as a cover coat when working on titanium white steel panels.

2009 – This soft fusing clear will clear up on copper on the first firing. It may produce “break up” or “pull through” when a subsequent coat of enamel is fired high.

2010 – This soft fusing clear will clear up on copper on the first firing but requires more time and/or temperature than 2009. It may produce “break up” or “pull through” when a subsequent coat of enamel is fired high.

2015 – This medium fusing clear has a gold color similar to Thompson lead bearing 1005 or 426. It works well under warm colors.

2020 – This clear does not “yellow” on silver. It should always be used when a clear enamel is needed on silver as the first coat. It may also be used on copper and gold. It is also the clear transparent that is suggested to be used as a final cover coat in that is has a lower expansion than most of the other transparent clears.

2030 – This clear is the best all-purpose-use clear. It works well under other enamels, opaques and transparents. Fire sufficiently to dissolve all copper oxide (reddish-brown color). One or two refireing may be required.

2040 – This clear is harder than the above transparent clears. It is least likely to develop “pull through” when applying subsequent applications of enamel. It should be fired sufficiently to dissolve all copper oxide.


Thompson enamels are 80 mesh medium temperature medium expansion enamels used for copper, gold, and silver enameling.

Complete Thompson color charts along with other information - http://thompsonenamel.com/enameling-help-and-information/#1448049548867-3d43dc14-1972