Dinah Snipes Steveni on fri 19 nov 10
If one uses a good mask -- dealt with in previous postings -- for making gl=
azes and adds dry to wet; and one wet mops and sponges down; and one doesn'=
t sit around sanding away on a dry piece of clay to capture some phantom sh=
ape (it's usually too late by then anyway), one shouldn't have a need for e=
xpensive filtration systems. What are these ?
Also, would really appreciate a vote or two for People's Choice in Ashes to=
Art exhibition. Google it or funeria. It's in Graton CA.
Thanks.
Dinah
http://www.dinahsnipessteveni.com
jd.steveni@comcast.com
Plein Air Washington
FB Dianthus Visual Arts Page
Dinah Snipes Steveni on sat 20 nov 10
There are masks and there are masks and I have one of the filtering systems=
masks that blocks various vapours etc etc. and filters can be replaced. An=
d I take care of it. Those little white throwaway mask are not good. Frankl=
y, as I said should not be happening. Everyone has an opni=
on which is good, but everyone should be wet mopping and wep wiping and wea=
ring proper studio clothing. If one has a really good exhaust fan/spray boo=
th set up then that would be the place to build your raw glazes with the fa=
n set on Hi. Wearing a good mask of course.
Dinah
http://www.dinahsnipessteveni.com
jd.steveni@comcast.com
Plein Air Washington
FB Dianthus Visual Arts Page
Ron Roy on sat 20 nov 10
There is a latent problem in using a mask in the studio. The dust
still gets into the air and the worst kind - very fine silica that
causes silicosis - stays suspended for a very long time - if you have
a hot and cold air system running those particles will suspended
forever. If the Hot/cold air is connected to living quarters that air
get contaminated as well.
Best to eject contaminated air directly outside - there are systems
called air exchangers that heat or cool the incoming air.
Filtration systems get clogged up pretty fast in a clay studio - they
are the more expensive solution and need a lot of maintenance.
RR
Quoting Dinah Snipes Steveni :
> If one uses a good mask -- dealt with in previous postings -- for
> making glazes and adds dry to wet; and one wet mops and sponges
> down; and one doesn't sit around sanding away on a dry piece of clay
> to capture some phantom shape (it's usually too late by then
> anyway), one shouldn't have a need for expensive filtration systems.
> What are these ?
>
> Also, would really appreciate a vote or two for People's Choice in
> Ashes to Art exhibition. Google it or funeria. It's in Graton CA.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
> Dinah
> http://www.dinahsnipessteveni.com
> jd.steveni@comcast.com
> Plein Air Washington
> FB Dianthus Visual Arts Page
>
May Luk on sun 21 nov 10
I agree Dinah.
I saw that cloud of dust in the video and I cringe. But that does
happen when one is in a hurry.
I do not trust a small budget vacuum cleaner in the studio. I also
found wet wiping with water unsatisfactory. There is still white film
left behind if the water is not fresh. Any dust that stays in the
studio gets fluff about when the kiln is on, though I can't see it but
I can see the white film afterwards. The hot air moves small particles
around. (I do not have a separate kiln room). I also know it if I
sneeze and my nose starts itching and running while working.
The latest thing I do is wipe surfaces with a cotton rag with 409
(will be trying out something less chemical, like water and vinegar
spray) and then wash the rags in the washer. What a joy to be able to
put my navy cotton bike bag anywhere and no white marks.
I just bought new mask and proper filters at Lab Safety dot com. The
tech support person is excellent and we communicate through email.
They answer all my questions about mask. Yes, this is an endorsement
from me. "-)
http://www.labsafety.com/store/Safety_Supplies/Respirators/
Best Regards
May
On Sat, Nov 20, 2010 at 6:00 PM, Dinah Snipes Steveni
wrote:
> There are masks and there are masks and I have one of the filtering syste=
=3D
ms masks that blocks various vapours etc etc. and filters can be replaced. =
=3D
And I take care of it. Those little white throwaway mask are not good. Fran=
=3D
kly, as I said should not be happening. Everyone has an op=
=3D
nion which is good, but everyone should be wet mopping and wep wiping and w=
=3D
earing proper studio clothing. If one has a really good exhaust fan/spray b=
=3D
ooth set up then that would be the place to build your raw glazes with the =
=3D
fan set on Hi. Wearing a good mask of course.
>
>
> Dinah
> http://www.dinahsnipessteveni.com
> jd.steveni@comcast.com
> Plein Air Washington
> FB Dianthus Visual Arts Page
>
--=3D20
http://twitter.com/MayLuk
http://www.ceramicsbrooklyn.com/
Vince Pitelka on sun 21 nov 10
I've been involved in clay for 40 years, and as I have mentioned before =3D
on Clayart, my first serious involvement in clay at Humboldt State =3D
University 40 years ago coincided with participation in the =3D
foundry/metals program at Humboldt, where Steven Daly required that we =3D
each purchase a full complement of safety gear including an MSA-approved =
=3D
(Mine Safety Association-approved) twin-element respirator. I have been =
=3D
using high-quality respirators ever since in all dust-producing =3D
situations. The following "treatise" sums up some of what I have =3D
learned, and if you wear a respirator of any kind in a dust-producing =3D
situation of any kind, you should read it and then continue with your =3D
own research. At the age of 62, my lungs are still in very good shape. =3D
Are yours, or will they be when you are 62?
You should not purchase a respirator that "blocks various vapors etc." =3D
unless you need to block specific vapors, and then you must make sure =3D
that the cartridges covers those vapors. Otherwise, it just complicates =
=3D
matters unnecessarily. Dust is always the key issue in the clay studio, =
=3D
and you do not need vapor cartridges unless you are working with china =3D
paints, lusters, or other products that involve toxic vapors. Also, if =3D
you have a respirator that blocks the vapors of organic solvents and =3D
other such chemicals (the most common multipurpose cartridge on =3D
respirators from Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.), it is imperative that the =3D
respirator (or at least the cartridges) always be stored in a sealed =3D
plastic bag when not in use, because otherwise the cartridges are =3D
constantly absorbing solvent and organic chemical vapors out of the =3D
atmosphere, and pretty soon will no longer be effective. Such =3D
respirators (from hardware stores and big-box home-improvement stores) =3D
always have dust filters, but they may not be of the appropriate grade =3D
for ceramic dusts. =3D20
For clay studio use, you should wear a very high-quality respirator that =
=3D
snugly fits your face. Make sure that the dust filtration will block =3D
even the very finest silica particles, because those are the most =3D
dangerous. The standard rating for such a filter in the industry is =3D
"P-100." A "P-95" filter is not good enough.
The preferred type of respirator for clay studio use is the "half-mask" =3D
respirator with two filter cartridges. To get a good sense of what is =3D
available, go to www.labsafety.com, and enter "half-mask respirator" in =3D
the search box. As you can imagine, standards for laboratory safety are =3D
about as rigorous as you can get, so there are no shoddy products at =3D
this site. Any decent respirator should be NIOSH-approved (National =3D
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). That is the current =3D
standard. =3D20
Note that with almost all of the half-masks at Lab Safety Supply, the =3D
cartridges must be ordered separately so that you can get the correct =3D
ones for your specific need. Below the description of the respirator, =3D
there is a section that says "Support Documents. In one of the =3D
selections, "cartchart" means "Cartridge Chart," and that chart tells =3D
you what cartridges are available, but you cannot order by clicking on =3D
the items in that chart. In order to find the prices and packaging =3D
information for cartridges, you have to enter the name/model of the =3D
particular respirator and "cartridges" in the search box - for example, =3D
"North 7700 cartridges." =3D20
Note that on some masks like the North 7700, you can order the P-100 =3D
pancake filter/pre-filter. These are flat, thin, but effective =3D
particulate filters that are available in quantity packages relatively =3D
cheaply, allowing you to change the filter on a regular basis. However, =
=3D
in order to use these filters by themselves on these half-masks, you =3D
must separately order a filter adapter. If you had a canister-type =3D
cartridge (normally the size and shape of a snuff can) on the =3D
respirator, such as for organic vapors, the pancake filter would just =3D
fit on under a cap that snaps on over the canister cartridge. The =3D
separate adapters available for the pancake filters allow you to use =3D
them with no canister-type cartridge, reducing your expenses over time, =3D
and eliminating cartridges that you don't need. =3D20
The Lab Safety website does not make it easy to select and order =3D
cartridges, and I think that's because they would prefer that you call =3D
and talk to customer service. They do provide very good customer =3D
service, so I think it is well worth it.
Note that the Lab Safety respirators can be ordered in small, medium, =3D
and large to fit your particular face. Again, it may be best to call =3D
and talk to customer service to help you select the right size for your =3D
face. Once you have purchased a properly-fitting respirator the first =3D
time, you will always know what size to purchase in the future. Also, =3D
if you buy a very high-quality respirator, it will last longer, and you =3D
will be able to get replacement parts such as the elastic straps and the =
=3D
cartridges, without having to purchase a whole new respirator. =3D20
=3D20
Compared to buying the off-the-shelf choice at the local =3D
building/hardware supplier, there is little doubt that you will spend =3D
more money at Lab Safety by the time you purchase the respirator, =3D
cartridges, and adaptors. Is it worth it? OF COURSE it's worth it, =3D
because you are talking about the health of your lungs. Wearing ANY =3D
respirator is better than none, but wearing an inadequate, =3D
poorly-fitting respirator, no matter what cartridges are installed, is =3D
only halfway to good lung protection. =3D20
I hope this information is helpful.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu=3D20
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Marian Parkes on tue 23 nov 10
Speaking of sponging surfaces down.... I have a great microfiber sponge w=
=3D
ith
little fingers (it's sold as a car washing sponge) that I use to clean wi=
=3D
th.
Those little fingers really clean well and, even with water, no residue =
=3D
is
left. Got it at the dollar store for $1. One of the best dollars I've
spent in a long time. Microfiber washcloths do well, too, but not quite =
=3D
as
well as this sponge.
It's like this one... except mine is bright green and I have named it Ker=
=3D
mit.
http://www.refinesalon.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=3D3Dpopup_image&=3D
pID=3D3D55
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