CSLPZZN@AOL.COM on wed 28 feb 01
Yikes...did I get responses.
In my haste to make my question short and sweet I neglected to mention that
we DO have exhaust fans, open doors and windows that move the air out of the
studio and the studio is CLOSED during firing. We have volunteers that sit
the kilns. It's a lot easier to find people to help if they can do some work
while they're there.
My question was, just how much worse can it be in there if we were to start
using wax? We have learned to clean the bottom of pots with a beautiful
clean line but it's just time consuming. We realize the dangers of bisque
and glaze fumes, I was just wondering if I can argue to the forces that be,
that we be allowed to start using wax. Now I'll argue for proper kiln vents
and the fumes will be a moot point.
There are lots of great potters up here in the mountains of SC and Tryon NC
but no one has the time or interest or maybe the ability to teach.
So, I turn to you all for answers and help.
Thank you
Carolyn
Tom Buck on thu 1 mar 01
There has been posts on this topic before, and Monona Rossol has given
information on the decomposition of microcrystalline wax (from petroleum)
and that it is most hazardous, and most certainly a danger to anyone in
the room while the kiln is giving off fumes, not to mention the vapours
coming off the molten wax while pot-feet are being coated.
Briefly, the wax in use by many potters is a long-chain
hydrocarbon, and the principal component is best represented by the
chemical forumla: CH3CH2CH2CH2........CH3 and the number of CH2 units can
amount to 150 and up, for a molecular weight of 2000 and up.
When this long-chain hydrocarbon is heated it soon breaks down and
if there is some oxygen present, a certainity, then many "oxo" compounds
are formed. a key one is "acrolein" or 2-propenal, CH2=CHCHO. This
compound is "highly toxic by inhalation and ingestion, strong irritant to
the eyes and skin. Tolerance, 0.1 parts per million in air".
To avoid this level of acrolein, the kiln itself must be well
ventilated, as should the room where the molten wax awaits the potter.
Besides acrolein, it is likely that some cyclic hydrocarbons,
the aromatics especially, will be formed (benzene, toluene, others)
and these are well established as carcinogens.
In summary, with cold wax emulsion now available at lowcost,
potters should prefer to use it instead of the microcrystalline parrafin
wax.
bye for now. Peace. Tom B.
Tom Buck ) tel: 905-389-2339
(westend Lake Ontario, province of Ontario, Canada).
mailing address: 373 East 43rd Street,
Hamilton ON L8T 3E1 Canada
Cindy Strnad on thu 1 mar 01
Hi, Carolyn.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but yes, if you use wax, it will get worse. The
"venting system" you've been provided with won't take care of wax fumes, and
I think if you brought in monitoring equipment, you'd find it isn't taking
care of the poisonous stuff, either. I don't think I'd like to volunteer to
kiln sit at this studio--unless it only meant a quick peek to check on
things.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Don Goodrich on fri 2 mar 01
Tom Buck said:
>...Monona Rossol has given
information on the decomposition of microcrystalline wax (from petroleum)
and that it is most hazardous, and most certainly a danger to anyone in
the room while the kiln is giving off fumes, not to mention the vapours
coming off the molten wax while pot-feet are being coated...<
So my question is, is beeswax significantly different in terms of
molecular structure or fume exposure hazard? Since I'm a beekeeper, I get all
the wax I want. No, I don't waste it all by waxing feet and burning it in my
kiln, but I do use the lower -quality scraps for that. Obviously, avoiding
any smoke exposure is ideal, but have there been studies of carcinogenicity
of various kinds?
Just wondering,
Don Goodrich in Zion, Illinois where the glacier in the driveway might
finally melt this weekend!
goodrichdn@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/goodrichdn/
Joseph Herbert on fri 2 mar 01
Let's not forget that sulfur is a small but common constituent of many earth
materials. An unvented kiln provides a constant low-level exposure to
sulfur dioxide, a famous lung irritant. Not good.
Joe
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