John Baymore on wed 26 may 99
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Steve,
What a sorry thing to hear=21 That poor woman.
To throw a highly combustable, highly VOLATILE, explosive fuel like that
into a hot raku container requires a new low in awareness. What's
next........ gasoline? Maybe gunpowder? Bah=21=21=21=21=21=21=21
Please pass on my sincerest sympathies and prayers for a speedy and full
recovery to the unfortunate victim of this ill informed act.
And pass on condemnation to the perpetrator of this senseless act of
indifference, lack of education, or negligence (pick one or more).
I have been involved in kilns and firing, raku, college level teaching, and
pottery for a LONG time. I have attended a LOT of workshops, conferences
and the like. The closest practice to this I have ever heard of being used
is using motor oil soaked rags to cover a =22medium hot=22 pot (not
glowing....already crazed) to smoke in crackle lines, and this is done in a
sand pit, not a closed container. Never liked suggesting the idea
myself....... sort of like giving out toxic glaze formulas in an
=22uncontrolled situation=22......... you never know what someone will do =
with
it.
I remember seeing a written recommendation somewhere in a book or magazine
for pouring used crankcase oil onto a =22medium hot=22 pot to do the
same....... but always felt that was a terribly risky recommendation. If
the pot is too hot and the oil is too thin..... you could get quite an
unexpected flame.
But motor oil is one thing.......and is risky enough. It has to be
atomized to really burn. A volatile hydrocarbon is another beast
altogether.
WOW. If this is =22common pratice=22 I have never heard of it...... and if =
it
IS in practice much at all.......... the pottery field has been darn lucky
if this is the first person who has been badly burned or possibly killed.
Hopefully your act of posting this to the CLAYART list (thanks=21) will make
a lot of people aware of the dangers of such things. So pass that thought
on to the young woman........ something good WILL come out of her
unfortunate suffering.
Best,
....................john
PS: 25ish years ago I recieved the wrong end of a MINOR student mistake in
a raku session and had some 2nd and 3rd degree burns on my hand........
this poor lady has had a tough time already and faces some rough treatments
ahead. Anyone who has not experienced severe burns and burn treatment
really doesn't fully understand.
John Baymore
River Bend Pottery
22 Riverbend Way
Wilton, NH 03086 USA
603-654-2752
JBaymore=40compuserve.com
John.Baymore=40GSD-CO.COM
=22Earth, Water, and Fire climbing kiln firing workshop Aug. 20-29,1999=22
Anne Hunt on fri 28 may 99
John & Steve -
Ditto on all that has been said on the subject, esp. John's mention of
the nastiness of burns...about 20 years ago (young and more foolish), I
totalled a Porsche (1st and last) and gave myself 1st and 2d degree burns
over legs and foot. Many operations and incredible pain later, I was still
facing permanent lack of movement in areas of my foot due to graft/scar
tissue tightening, and partial amputation of a toe due to bone infection.
That's not even addressing the pain and permanent disfigurement of the donor
sites, or later dealing with people trying so hard not to look...bless
little kids -- they're so honest, forthright, and have the market cornered
on compassion... So...
Have been more than mildly curious, Steve, about what happened to the
villain who tossed in the methylated spirits. Is he alive? Burned?
A-Okay and "just" living with the knowledge of what he did to an innocent?
In my accident, I was at fault (drinking/blackout), but can thank god
that I didn't take anyone out with me (like someone's little kid).
anne & the cats, in sequim, where the donor sites can hardly be seen
anymore.
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