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question for english potters about lead use

updated tue 19 aug 03

 

Donn Buchfinck on sat 16 aug 03


I have been reading some english ceramic magazines, and reading some books
about english ceramics and I see that lead glazes are still used,
now here in the ole USA we seem to have a fear of lead unless it is in a food
safe commercial glaze.
So what is the difference?
Isn't there the concern over lead in the enviroment in england?

please send a reply also to
Bayareaartist@aol.com
Thank you
Donn Buchfinck
San Francisco
http://www.geocities.com/clayincal/may_1_2003.html

Steve Mills on sun 17 aug 03


Dear Donn,

At the moment fritted lead glazes are considered *safe*.
In the powdered state as sold to potters in the UK they are classified
as Toxic, and the bag they are sold in MUST have a Toxic Label complete
with Skull & Crossbones Logo. As a ready-made glaze they are currently
not considered dangerous if fired to the recommended temperature.
It is common knowledge that the addition of copper to a fritted lead
glaze nullifies the fritting, but there are not as yet (to my knowledge)
any regulations or directives on this (I think there should be).
As a matter of interest I have included the URL of the MSDS on a very
popular Borosilicate/Lead Bisilicate glaze that we have been selling for
some time.

Steve
Bath
UK

http://www.bathpotters.co.uk/pdf/glazes/B314.PDF


In message , Donn Buchfinck writes
>I have been reading some english ceramic magazines, and reading some book=
>s
>about english ceramics and I see that lead glazes are still used,
>now here in the ole USA we seem to have a fear of lead unless it is in a =
>food
>safe commercial glaze.
>So what is the difference?
>Isn't there the concern over lead in the enviroment in england?
>
>please send a reply also to
>Bayareaartist@aol.com
>Thank you
>Donn Buchfinck
>San Francisco
>http://www.geocities.com/clayincal/may_1_2003.html

--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK

Edouard Bastarache on sun 17 aug 03


Hello Steve,

not only copper enhances the release of lead from glazes.

TITLE :
Some Facts About Lead Glazes For Workshop And Studio Potters
AUTHOR(S) :
Anonymous
SOURCE :
National Health and Medical Research Council, Commonwealth of Australia,
Canberra, Australia, 3 pages
PUBLICATION YEAR : 1975
(......)
"Coloring agents should be used with care because certain oxides and
carbonates such as those of copper (7440508), cobalt (7440484), and nickel
(7440020) tend to release lead from the matrix."






" Dear Donn,
It is common knowledge that the addition of copper to a fritted lead
glaze nullifies the fritting
Steve
Bath
UK"

Russel Fouts on mon 18 aug 03


Steve

>> At the moment fritted lead glazes are considered *safe*. In the powdered state as sold to potters in the UK they are classified as Toxic, and the bag they are sold in MUST have a Toxic Label complete with Skull & Crossbones Logo. As a ready-made glaze they are currently not considered dangerous if fired to the recommended temperature. It is common knowledge that the addition of copper to a fritted lead glaze nullifies the fritting, but there are not as yet (to my knowledge) any regulations or directives on this (I think there should be). As a matter of interest I have included the URL of the MSDS on a very popular Borosilicate/Lead Bisilicate glaze that we have been selling for
some time. <<


There are regulations but they're less strict in the UK. I think I saw
them in Sanders book. Kind of like the difference be California
standards and the rest of the states

Russel
-----------------------------

--
Russel Fouts
Mes Potes & Mes Pots
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Steve Mills on tue 19 aug 03


Dear Edouard,

Thanks for that, that was outside my knowledge.
Publications on these subjects from countries other than the USA don't
seem to surface over here!

Steve
Bath
UK


In message , Edouard Bastarache writes
>Hello Steve,
>
>not only copper enhances the release of lead from glazes.
>
>TITLE :
> Some Facts About Lead Glazes For Workshop And Studio Potters
>AUTHOR(S) :
> Anonymous
>SOURCE :
> National Health and Medical Research Council, Commonwealth of Australi=
>a,
>Canberra, Australia, 3 pages
>PUBLICATION YEAR : 1975
>(......)
>"Coloring agents should be used with care because certain oxides and
>carbonates such as those of copper (7440508), cobalt (7440484), and nicke=
>l
>(7440020) tend to release lead from the matrix."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>" Dear Donn,
> It is common knowledge that the addition of copper to a fritted lead
> glaze nullifies the fritting
> Steve
> Bath
> UK"

--
Steve Mills
Bath
UK