Paul Lewing on fri 9 mar 01
I posted this question yesterday, but I guess it got lost in the ether.
A friend of mine is thinking about doing some glass slumping and fusing,
and she's been a tile artist for many years. She's thinking of using
one of her kilns for this glass work, but she's been told she can't
because of contamination.
So, the question is, is this true? If so, what would the contamination
be? Lead? Chrome? Copper? She's never fired lead glazes in this kiln
and never bisqued in it.
And what can she do about it? Is there any way to get rid of said
contamination? Fire it empty a few times? Would ITC fix this?
Thanks in advance on her behalf.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Janet Kaiser on sat 10 mar 01
Bill Swann, a local glass artist, uses his old
ceramic kilns without any sort of "conversion".
They had been used for biscuit, earthenware and
stoneware. The only "contamination" he had to
get rid of was dust. He uses high quality lead
crystal for slumping and fusing, so I guess
there is more "contamination" now than ever
there was before.
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art . Capel Celfyddyd
HOME OF THE INTERNATIONAL POTTERS' PATH
Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales Tel: (01766) 523570
E-mail: postbox@the-coa.org.uk
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
----- Original Message -----
> A friend of mine is thinking about doing some
glass slumping and fusing,
> and she's been a tile artist for many years.
She's thinking of using
> one of her kilns for this glass work, but
she's been told she can't
> because of contamination.
Joseph Herbert on sat 10 mar 01
I must say, this seems strange. Since a wide definition of contamination
is, "something in a place you don't want it" there are two questions. What
is in the kiln that is not supposed to be? and What can get on the fused
glass that would be unwelcome? Given the list of things Paul says weren't
done in the kiln having something harmful in it seems unlikely and if it is
there, is it possible to transfer it to the glass. I guess we are assuming
that this "it" was ok to get onto tiles but not onto slumped glass? Since
this all seems really illogical, we can now ask the third, and maybe best,
question: Who said it was "CONTAMINATED"? I would make sure there was a
need before prescribing decon treatments.
Joseph Herbert
Paul Lewing on sun 11 mar 01
Joseph Herbert wrote:
Since this all seems really illogical, we can now ask the third, and
maybe best,
> question: Who said it was "CONTAMINATED"? I would make sure there was a
> need before prescribing decon treatments.
Good question, Joseph.
My understanding was that it was her glass teacher who said that a clay
kiln would not work for glass. As far as I know, not someone with an
interest in selling her a new kiln. I suspect this is one of those
cases where the teacher is passing on lore without knowing the whys and
wherefores. And my friend, though she has made a living doing tile
commissions for many years, knows nothing about the chemistry of the
whole thing. She has always fired commercial glazes onto commercial
tiles at cone 04. I see this as a good potential example of how
ignorance can cost you money. She was ready to sell her kiln and buy a
new one for glass till she talked to me. I know nothing about slumping
glass but I can't see how what she's been doing would affect glass, at
least not forever after.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
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