What is Frit? Is it the same as glass enamel?
No, the term frit refers essentially to crushed glass. The term has two common usages which can be confusing. The most common usage to glass kilnworkers is in reference to a crushed-glass product made by artglass manufacturers such as Bullseye or Spectrum. It may also be homemade by crushing scrap glass. The crushed glass frit from Bullseye or Spectrum can purchased by color, and can be applied to a sheet glass substrate or cast in a mold as a primary artist medium. The different common usage of the term is by the enamel and glaze manufacturers. They use ingredients formed into frits that wouldnt otherwise behave properly in their enamel recipes. For instance, flux compounds such as lead, borax and alumina are often fritted before being added to an enamel mixture. Frits in this sense are usually made by specialized companies. They use large scale machinery to melt batches of the mixtures. The machinery melts the ingredients, allows it to cool or submerges it in water, and crushes the p
