Method for enameling ferrous objects

The method of applying a porcelain enamel coating to a ferrous workpiece which comprises cleaning said workpiece to leave a clean, unpickled, nickel-free surface, applying a dry particulate reactive porcelain enamel coating to said surface, said reactive coating being capable of fusing into a molten mass which significantly etches the underlying surface, said reactive coating containing at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of cupric oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, and manganese oxide, and mixtures thereof, said reactive coating containing at least 5% by weight of said selected oxide, said reactive coating further containing at least 1% cupric oxide, and having an alkali to silica ratio of at least 0.40, applying a cover coat of porcelain enamel having a melting temperature at least 100.degree. F. higher than that of said reactive coating over said reactive coating, the fusion flow of the reactive coating at 1520.degree. F. being at least twice as long as that of said cover coat, firing the thus coated workpiece at a temperature sufficient to first cause the reactive coating to fuse and adhere to the workpiece by etching the same, and raising the temperature sufficiently high to fuse said cover coat.