Luba and Erik on thu 14 aug 03
Hi claybuds...this one is for the kind glaze gurus.
A few members at the studio have recently discovered the really REALLY
beautiful effects of a lithium wash. They've mixed up lithium carbonate
with water and brush it on to bisque pieces. About 20 grams of lithium
carbonate to 16 ounces of water seems to do the trick. The result is a
semi-matte & lucious tan/brown. Very similar to the lovely "unflashed"
surfaces of a salt or soda firing.
Of course, I'm concerned about the potential hazards of lithium carbonate.
Is the "wash" version hazardous for the person applying it? We generally
use brushes, but surely some of it gets on hands during the final rubbing
and cleaning up. Does lithium carbonate penetration through the skin to a
degree that could be harmful? We have very good ventilation for the kilns,
so that's probably not a bad situation there. But I am worried about
excessive skin contact.
Also, is there any chance that the fired piece is food safe if all it has is
an overall sheen from the lithium wash?
I can't find the Clay Times article from 97 that discussed lithium at
length. It's referenced in the archives numerous times.... but alack! No
info.
Thanks in advance for any advice
Luba
MudFire Pottery Center
Open Studio * Gallery * Workshops
www.mudfire.com
Edouard Bastarache on thu 14 aug 03
Luba,
go to
http://www.digitalfire.com/education/toxicity/lithium.shtml
or
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/smart2000/Lithium.htm
for information agreed upon by the scientific community.
Later,
"Ils sont fous ces Quebecois"
Edouard Bastarache
Irreductible Quebecois
Indomitable Quebeker
Sorel-Tracy
Quebec
edouardb@sorel-tracy.qc.ca
http://sorel-tracy.qc.ca/~edouardb/
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/smart2000/index.htm
----- Original Message -----
From: Luba and Erik
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 12:13 PM
Subject: lithium - straight up - is it going to kill us?
> Hi claybuds...this one is for the kind glaze gurus.
>
> A few members at the studio have recently discovered the really REALLY
> beautiful effects of a lithium wash. They've mixed up lithium carbonate
> with water and brush it on to bisque pieces. About 20 grams of lithium
> carbonate to 16 ounces of water seems to do the trick. The result is a
> semi-matte & lucious tan/brown. Very similar to the lovely "unflashed"
> surfaces of a salt or soda firing.
>
> Of course, I'm concerned about the potential hazards of lithium carbonate.
> Is the "wash" version hazardous for the person applying it? We generally
> use brushes, but surely some of it gets on hands during the final rubbing
> and cleaning up. Does lithium carbonate penetration through the skin to a
> degree that could be harmful? We have very good ventilation for the
kilns,
> so that's probably not a bad situation there. But I am worried about
> excessive skin contact.
>
> Also, is there any chance that the fired piece is food safe if all it has
is
> an overall sheen from the lithium wash?
>
> I can't find the Clay Times article from 97 that discussed lithium at
> length. It's referenced in the archives numerous times.... but alack! No
> info.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice
> Luba
> MudFire Pottery Center
> Open Studio * Gallery * Workshops
> www.mudfire.com
>
>
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Ron Roy on fri 15 aug 03
It is not clear from the material I have - if the carbonate - the soluble
part can be absorbed through the skin - you will need to research further -
try the internet for one thing.
It certainly would not be appropriate to use it on food bearing surfaces -
any leach testing will prove that lithium will be released into acidic
foods.
RR
>Hi claybuds...this one is for the kind glaze gurus.
>
>A few members at the studio have recently discovered the really REALLY
>beautiful effects of a lithium wash. They've mixed up lithium carbonate
>with water and brush it on to bisque pieces. About 20 grams of lithium
>carbonate to 16 ounces of water seems to do the trick. The result is a
>semi-matte & lucious tan/brown. Very similar to the lovely "unflashed"
>surfaces of a salt or soda firing.
>
>Of course, I'm concerned about the potential hazards of lithium carbonate.
>Is the "wash" version hazardous for the person applying it? We generally
>use brushes, but surely some of it gets on hands during the final rubbing
>and cleaning up. Does lithium carbonate penetration through the skin to a
>degree that could be harmful? We have very good ventilation for the kilns,
>so that's probably not a bad situation there. But I am worried about
>excessive skin contact.
>
>Also, is there any chance that the fired piece is food safe if all it has is
>an overall sheen from the lithium wash?
Ron Roy
RR#4
15084 Little Lake Road
Brighton, Ontario
Canada
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-9544
Fax: 613-475-3513
Ababi on sat 16 aug 03
I have another question.
In my crystal base I have 2%lithium carbonate.
Is there a problem to let children apply this glazes with brushes?
So far I did not let them use any lithium glaze.
Thanks
Ababi Sharon
Glaze addict
Kibbutz Shoval Israel
ababisha@shoval.org.il
http://members4.clubphoto.com/ababi306910
http://www.matrix2000.co.nz/Matrix%20Demo/Ababi.htm
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