Liv Antonecchia on tue 3 sep 02
Hello,=20
Need some opinions on this. My studio is in my basement which =
has no windows. I
do have my kiln in my whashing room which does have a window and a door =
to the outside=20
so I have the envirovent snaked out in the window and the door open =
while firing. I think that=20
is o.k. but I am concerned with the room that I throw in and the clay =
dust. I try to keep it=20
clean (although I am not the most neat person) and use a dust mask when =
I sweep and=20
mop. Should I think about investing in one of those ceiling air =
filtration fans (like in Baileys)? =20
They are so expensive! =20
=20
Thanks
LA =20
Marianne Lombardo on tue 3 sep 02
Liv,
My throwing is also done in a small basement room. What I've found works
best for me, is to do a quick cleanup right after each throwing session. I
have a couple of big buckets of water and quickly wipe up the wheel area
with a huge sponge. Then go over the floor with a big wet string mop.
It takes maybe 5 minutes and I don't really have any clay dust sitting
around. I never use a broom to sweep up dry clay, because I clean up before
it gets to that stage. Works for me.
Marianne Lombardo
Omemee, Ontario, Canada
email: mlombardo@nexicom.net
>is o.k. but I am concerned with the room that I throw in and the clay dust.
>I try to keep it clean (although I am not the most neat person) and use a
dust
>mask when I sweep and mop. Should I think about investing in one of those
>ceiling air filtration fans (like in Baileys)?
Lily Krakowski on tue 3 sep 02
I have worked in all sorts of studios over the years and none has had a
central ventilation/air filter system, and some were used long before all
the very very valid concern for studio hygiene became active. Two of my
studios were in basements, and one still is! This is history, not a
recommendation....
Sweeping is not a good idea. I DO sweep sometimes,wearing a mask, and using
VERY WET SAWDUST as sweeping compound. This gets up just plain dirt, stuff I
dropped, and so on. Wet mopping is good, if here is plenty of fresh, clean
water used, and a frequently rinsed mop. (Too often the first passes are
clean, the rest are done with what in essence is slip and a slip mop!) I
use an old bath towel draped over a linoleum brush. I find a towel easier to
rinse than a sponge or string mop. Working as cleanly as possible is good.
Working wet if possible is good. (I do not sweep up the trimmings on my
wheel; I collect them as soon as trimmed and drop them in water, and I rewet
the mud that dries and scrape it off wet.)
BUT I INSIST, DESPITE PAST SNICKERS, THAT BEING PERSONALLY SCRUPULOUSLY
CLEAN IS MOST IMPORTANT.
If you can: get out of your studio clothes instantly you leave the studio.
drop your clayey clothes into a tub of water, or a big garbage bag wet on
the inside. Leave your clayey shoes in the studio. Shower and shampoo as
soon as possible after leaving the studio. Wash your face several times a
day. I know this sounds ridiculous; I remain convinced that the clouds of
dust potters create AROUND THEMSELVES are at least as dangerous, I think
more so, than clay in the room.
When you work in your home basement this is really important. And yes, if
you all must know: I get OUT of my shirt and jeans, out of my shoes and
socks and ascend into the house proper either scantily attired or in an old
bathrobe! Of late I have been wearing plastic gardening clogs in the studio
and wash them every day.
I get mighty icked seeing potters with clay all over themselves, raising
clay dust as they move about in clothes on which clay has dried.
One more pedantic word: I do my glaze testing and glaze mixing on the last
afternoon of my workweek so I can leave the studio and allow all dust to
settle over the weekend. Then I wash tables and clean first thing following
week.
Lili Krakowski
P.O. Box #1
Constableville, N.Y.
(315) 942-5916/ 397-2389
Be of good courage....
Nikki Simmons on tue 3 sep 02
Hi Clayart,
How timely this discussion is. I found out this morning that my mentor has
lung cancer. Most likely candidate is silica dust in the clay. She is 87?
and will not pursue treatment. They found it when they were x-raying her
broken ribs.
I recently had a guy out to do air sampling for silica. He did not even
bother. He said any in the air is to much (when it is in the basement of
your house, like mine is) and it was obvious that our feet walking on the
mopped floor were stirring things up.
So my plans to build a studio, have been revved up again. It has been put
on the backburner many times, just due to life circumstances. I have calls
in for concrete bids. Can't wait to see how much those are going to be!
Sincerely,
Nikki Simmons
nsimmons@mid-mo.net
Liv Antonecchia on tue 3 sep 02
Thanks for all the input (save one). Yes, I do wet mop but I have to =
be alot more neat. The one about leaving your mud clothes in the studio =
is a great idea. I will consider getting a window made and some sort of =
air filtration in the future. =20
Thanks,=20
-LA =20
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on wed 4 sep 02
<<... I am concerned with the room that I throw in and the clay dust. I try to keep it clean (although I am not the most neat person) and use a dust mask when I sweep and mop. Should I think about investing in one of those ceiling air
filtration fans (like in Baileys)?
They are so expensive!>>
You should think about moving your studio out of your house. Into a garage if possible. Especially if you have forced air heat. Once clay dust gets into your duct work it is nearly impossible to get out. My studio was in my basement for five years. Even with duct cleaning by a company using HEPA filters, I still have clay dust blowing around my home. This is not good for anyone.
Converting a garage is quite inexpensive if allowed by your zoning. You can insulate it yourself. Hang cheap bathroom paneling so you can wash it. A Sears thru the wall gas heater without a fan is simple to install and will provide all of the heat you need.
Your health is your FIRST priority.
Kathi LeSueur
Ann Arbor, MI
Jon Faber on wed 4 sep 02
I was studio assistant to this a university studio.
The grounds keeper (not me) was supposed to mop the
floor.
That meant that we would wait until it was really bad
to do something about it.
First I mopped but you could only go about 5 square
feet before needed to clean the floor.
If you just wanted to kind of clean the floor you
could wait to change the water.
At any rate, my solution was to use the mop to soak
down a bit of the floor and then the wet vac to get
the water and clay off the floor.
I would get the water into the mop in the sink and
then wring it out in the mop bucket.
This way the mop stays as clean as you can keep it
thus getting the floor cleaner.
jon
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Mike Gordon on wed 4 sep 02
Hi,
I too have a Rigid Vac with a Hepa filter. I bought 2 . When I vac the
floor of my studio I lightly wet the filter it collects a lot more dust
that way. When I'm done I take it out and flush it with the hose and
allow to dry. Inbetween ...I use the other one. Mike Gordon
Barbara Mueller on wed 4 sep 02
One day when checking out at the check out stand the woman at the
register said you always by organic foods and there so expense. I
looked at her and say, "You can spend it now and eat healthy or you can
spend it later on Doctor bills, your choice."
Clean lungs help a long life to throw pots.
B
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On
Behalf Of Liv Antonecchia
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2002 4:28 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: clay dust
Hello,
Need some opinions on this. My studio is in my basement which
has no windows. I
do have my kiln in my whashing room which does have a window and a door
to the outside
so I have the envirovent snaked out in the window and the door open
while firing. I think that
is o.k. but I am concerned with the room that I throw in and the clay
dust. I try to keep it
clean (although I am not the most neat person) and use a dust mask when
I sweep and
mop. Should I think about investing in one of those ceiling air
filtration fans (like in Baileys)?
They are so expensive!
Thanks
LA
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Joan & Tom Woodward on wed 4 sep 02
Ok. You all have given me another wake up call about studio safety. =
But here's my question. I trim with a Giffin Grip. I have my wheel on =
a platform (and use a higher stool) because of back problems. It's not =
practical for me to use the kiddie pool to catch my trimmings, because I =
couldn't life the wheel and platform up to remove it later. And I'd =
trip over it if I left it in place. Plus, I think some of the trimmings =
would fly even farther than the edge of the pool. So unless I stop =
after each pot and gather the trimmings before they dry, I end up with =
lots of dry trimmings on the floor. And stopping like that would be =
woefully inefficient. =20
Any thoughts?
Joan in Colorado where the temperatures have finally dropped enough for =
me to have the garage door on the studio open at least through =
mid-afternoon. Oh yeah. That's the other problem. I live in Colorado =
where it's DRY so trimmings dry out incredibly fast.
Alan Lent Sr. on wed 4 sep 02
Catherine's studio is set up in the garage with a concrete floor as are =
many of those on the list. Since the house is new and the garage has =
never been used as a garage the floor is quite rough. I felt that =
possibly some means to vacuum the floor might be simpler than trying to =
mop a rough unsealed floor. Yesterday I went looking for a wet/dry vac =
with a hepa filter. The only one I found was a Ridgid brand. Comes in =
sizes ranging from 6 to 16 gals, 2.0 to 5.0 hp motor. I chose the 9 =
gal, 3.5 hp one because it seemed to me to be a good combination of =
power (to pick up trimmings, etc.) and economy. Cost $49.95. Ridgid =
was the only one at Home Depot that had a hepa filter available =
($24.95). The hepa filter is effective for 97.5% of particles down to 3 =
microns just as hepa masks are. I think that this should do a good job =
of keeping the floor clean until I have a chance to put down an epoxy =
sealer/covering or paint ( about $140.00 for 2 car garage). The Ridgid =
vac has a very good "lifetime" warranty and seems to be a good deal. If =
you are going to use a vacuum to clean your floor be sure - very sure - =
that it has a hepa filter. Otherwise you will just be blowing the =
finest and worst of the dust into the air. Also be sure to empty the =
canister outside in an area where you will not be breathing the dust.
Alan
Alan Lent Sr. on wed 4 sep 02
Mike,
Great idea!! I'll have to go out and buy another filter. Why didn't I =
think of that? Also, maybe a little (1/2") water in the bottom of the =
canister might help keep the large pieces from rattling around and =
creating more dust in the vac. Guess I'll try it.
Alan
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on thu 5 sep 02
They are so expensive!>>
You should think about moving your studio out of your house. Into a garage if possible. Especially if you have forced air heat. Once clay dust gets into your duct work it is nearly impossible to get out. My studio was in my basement for five years.
Even with duct cleaning by a company using HEPA filters, I still have clay dust blowing around my home. This is not good for anyone.
Converting a garage is quite inexpensive if allowed by your zoning. You can insulate it yourself. Hang cheap bathroom paneling so you can wash it. A Sears thru the wall gas heater without a fan is simple to install and will provide all of the heat you need.
Your health is your FIRST priority.
Kathi LeSueur
Ann Arbor, MI
Ron Roy on fri 6 sep 02
No sweeping - thats basic - don't stir up dust - have as little dust as
possible - don't breath any more dust than you have to.
The best way to clean is have a vacume outside - any inside vacume is going
to spay dust all over the place.
The hepa filters are not such a good idea - they get clogged up with clay
very fast - put a good strong vacume outside - so the dust is directed away
from your window or door and bring the working end in to clean up with.
Those central vacs are the best tools for the job.
RR
>Hello,
> Need some opinions on this. My studio is in my basement which
>has no windows. I
>
> do have my kiln in my whashing room which does have a window and a door
>to the outside
>
>so I have the envirovent snaked out in the window and the door open while
>firing. I think that
>
>is o.k. but I am concerned with the room that I throw in and the clay
>dust. I try to keep it
>
>clean (although I am not the most neat person) and use a dust mask when I
>sweep and
>
>mop. Should I think about investing in one of those ceiling air
>filtration fans (like in Baileys)?
>
>They are so expensive!
>
>Thanks
>LA
Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513
Alan D. Scott on sat 7 sep 02
Seems like we're between a rock and a hard place. Which is worse: ozone or
silica dust???
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Roy
Subject: Re: Subject: Re: clay dust
The problem is - ozone is generated and that is not a good thing to be
breathing all the time.
It may be possible that there are some that don't produce ozone but you
will need an independent assessment - not the evaluation of the
manufacturer.
RR
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