Chris Rose on wed 26 sep 07
All,
I think the pots that Mr. Melstrom is showing on his website are exciting, but I want to interject that
silver nitrate should be handled carefully. The reference I have in front of me (Ceramic Industry
Materials Handbook) says that silver nitrate is "soluble, corrosive and poisonous".
I think that indicates that a potter ought not to touch the material or raw glaze with bare hands, and
that the glaze and the material should be stored in something more rugged than a plastic tub, at
least for long periods.
Mr. Melstrom, maybe you could just write a few words about the precautions you take in handling
silver nitrate, for the benefit of curious readers here?
Thanks,
Chris
William Melstrom on fri 28 sep 07
Chris & all:
Silver nitrate is soluble and poisonous, so contact with skin should be
avoided. Wear gloves, and immediately wash off any solution that contacts
the skin. Wear eye protection. The solution will oxidize, destroy or stain
black anything that it comes in contact with, so wear a smock or something
over your clothes, protect work surfaces, and handle carefully. Be clean
and use common sense, and it's really not all that bad.
There are certain advantages to using silver nitrate over silver fines
(finely powdered silver), but if what I have written scares you, silver
fines work just as well, without the staining or oxidizing.
William Melstrom
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Rose"
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 9:22 AM
Subject: SILVER (a bit of a warning)
> All,
>
> I think the pots that Mr. Melstrom is showing on his website are exciting,
> but I want to interject that
> silver nitrate should be handled carefully. The reference I have in front
> of me (Ceramic Industry
> Materials Handbook) says that silver nitrate is "soluble, corrosive and
> poisonous".
>
> I think that indicates that a potter ought not to touch the material or
> raw glaze with bare hands, and
> that the glaze and the material should be stored in something more rugged
> than a plastic tub, at
> least for long periods.
>
> Mr. Melstrom, maybe you could just write a few words about the precautions
> you take in handling
> silver nitrate, for the benefit of curious readers here?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
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