Hi. I'm Nikolas, and I work in Technical Services at Talking Technologies Internet Shops. I've been asked to tell you about Accent Gold For Silver.

WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD

AGS comes as two parts: a screw-top pot containing one gramme of 24 carat pure gold powder, and a dropper-bottle of non-toxic water-based medium. When mixed, the two parts make a creamy paste.

AGS is applied with a brush or a shaped tool to an already-fired silver piece. After drying, the piece is fired to sinter the gold powder and bond it to the silver.

There's an important difference between sintering and fusing. During sintering, metal powders bond to produce solid metal, but don't melt. During fusing, metals melt and lose their shape. Gold melts at about 1064°C.

One gramme could do twenty small highlights but, of course, coverage really depends on the area and thickness of the gold layer. The first time you use it, make a mental note of what you can achieve to help cost your future work.

To mix Accent Gold, add 12-14 drops of medium to the gold powder. It will last a long time at room temperature, with the top on, but you can add a little more medium to freshen it up: be careful not to over-dilute it as it will be too thin to use successfully.

To minimise waste, stir it with a piece of thin wire, such as a paper clip. Always keep the pot the right way up so that the paint settles in the bottom. As there's only one gramme in the pot, it will dry out quite quickly if the top is left off.

AGS is non-toxic, non-irritating to most people, and generally safe to use. However, as with all chemicals, be careful and wash your hands after use.

If you get a rash or itchiness, stop working and wash your hands. If AGS gets in your eyes, flush them with water and see a doctor to ensure that the gold powder and medium are completely removed.

To avoid burns when using a kiln, use a long pair of tweezers. Wear gloves and safety glasses, and avoid prolonged eye exposure. If you're concerned about the degree of eye exposure you get, wear welding glasses.

If you're working with electric kilns and butane torches you need to be aware of the risks, however slight. Most people understand very little about electricity and we've heard of every possible disaster: from blowing the fuse to paying £400 for an un-necessary extra circuit.

If you're running courses at your home or workplace, you may need public liability insurance. And check that you have complied with the local health and safety regulations and change-of-use planning consent. These may include providing protective eyeware, fire extinguishers, first-aid training, disabled access, and fire exits.

IT WAS OVER IN A FLASH

Most people understand very little about electricity and we've heard of every possible disaster: from blowing the fuse to melting a day's work to paying £400 for an un-necessary extra circuit.

In case you avoided a technical education, there are three commonly-used electrical measurements: Volts, for example 230V, is the pushing power. Amps, for example 5A, is the amount being pushed. Watts, for example 60W, is the energy. They're related by a simple formula: Volts x Amps = Watts. So, a 230V 13A plug can deliver nearly 3000W.

AS an example, the QuickFire QF-6 kiln is rated at 240V 7A. If this is correct, it has a 1680W element, usually written as 1.68kW where a kilowatt is a thousand watts.

It's interesting that a 10W radio will fill the room, a 100W light bulb will light the room, and a 1000W heater will warm the room. So, as we pay for electricity by the kilowatt, it's heating devices that cost the most to run.
Sadly, riding an excercise bike can only generate about 60W of light so, although the exercise keeps you warm, it's hard to be energy-independent. Especially as most of the light bulb's energy is heat rather than light.

Most domestic and small-business buildings have a main fusebox. The different fuses restrict the amount of current that can be drawn by function groups, such as the lights on one floor, the power sockets on one floor, the kitchen sockets, ovens and grills, a shower and pump, or a garage and outside lights. If you exceed a fuse's rating, it pops.

To supply lights, the fusebox uses several ring mains, each ring separately fused and rated at 5A or about 1200W. Typically, a ring main starts at the fusebox, visits several wall switches and lights in different rooms on the same floor, and returns to the fusebox. The whole circuit is earthed at the fusebox. A lighting circuit is not designed to power heating devices.

To supply power sockets, the fusebox uses several ring mains, each ring separately fused and rated at 30A or about 7000W. Typically, a ring main starts at the fusebox, visits several double sockets in different rooms on the same floor, and returns to the fusebox. The whole circuit is earthed at the fusebox.

To generalise, you can't plug lots of heating devices into all the sockets: neither the fuse nor the cable will survive, although the fuse should pop before the cable burns out.

Also, in older properties, several owners with varying levels of skill, may have changed the circuit or extended it. So, take care.

As an example, the Paragon SC-2 1745W kiln uses less power than a 2KW heater. So, you can plug it in similarly. It costs about 14p/hour to run.

SOCKETS TO SPARE

An extension lead lets you extend the wall socket to a more useful place. Usually, it has a 13A cable and one to six sockets. It's OK for a phone, light, computer, tumbler, drill, and one kiln, but not for a collection of kilns and heaters.

Adapters, which convert one socket to two or three, are not suitable for kilns or heaters. They often seem to get hot and discolour.

A coiled extension can get dangerously hot when running any sort of heater, so always completely unroll it even if it's on a special drum.

Whichever length you buy, you'll wish you'd bought a longer one. We generally use 3.0 metre six-socket extensions with individual socket switches and indicator lights.

Kitiki doesn't sell extension leads. The prices vary for no apparent reason: I've seen exactly the same lead for £2.99 and £13.99. You should be able to buy one locally. However, if you can't get to the shops, mail or call.

RESIDUAL CURRENT DEVICE

Typically, we run a kiln, tumbler, drill, and work light, from an extension lead plugged into an electronic RCD adapter. However, don't plug two kilns, or a kiln and any sort of heater, into the same extension. Don't touch anything electrical with wet hands.

Although most kilns have a built-in safety cut-out, all equipment in a work environment should plug into an electronic RCD adapter. These detect most dangerous electrical faults because current leaks to earth and triggers the cut-out almost immediately. They're available from DIY stores.

Kitiki doesn't sell RCDs. The prices vary so much for no apparent reason: I've seen exactly the same product for £6.99 at B+Q and £11.99 in a high street electrical shop. You should be able to buy one locally. However, if you can't get to the shops, mail or call.

SEE IT COMING

When firing, materials can flare up or explode, so wear safety glasses: you've only got one pair of eyes. If you work a lot with metal, glass, or beads, in a hot kiln, wear welding glasses.

Drilling and filing release tiny bits of material that, given a chance, head straight for your eyes. Don't blow your work area clean: use a mini-vac.

The Kitiki safety glasses are made from impact-resistant plastic, fit over normal glasses, and can be cleaned with warm soapy water.

PLAN AHEAD

If you're working with electric kilns, gas hobs, and butane torches, you need to be aware of the risks, however slight. It's important to have a fire extinguisher, nearby. Read the instructions as soon as you unpack it, buy a basic first aid kit, learn how to treat burns, and fit a smoke alarm.

As soon as the fire is put out, ventilate the room, and make sure that you haven't got the chemical on your skin or in your eyes. If you do, wash with lots of water. If you have any consequential effects, get medical attention.

The Kitiki fire extinguisher is rated for electrical fires. It contains sodium bicarbonate, a dry chemical that is non-toxic, helps prevent re-ignition, and doesn't soak soft furnishings.