Tig Dupre on fri 19 mar 04
Dear All,
While Vince, Lisa, Billie, et al. are extolling the virtues of Clayart and NCECA in Indianapolis (Boy! I'd *love* to be there...), let us explore what helps to keep our primary tools--our precious hands--fit to do the job.
Something I got out of one of the Ceramics Monthly "Ideas" books is to wash hands in warm water, no soap, after making pots for several hours, and you're ready to quit for a while. Then, squirt a little plain, white vinegar onto your hands and rub it in, all the way to the elbows. Let it dry, then rub in some of your favorite hand cream. I use the Avon Silicone Glove.
At my age (nearly 60), the body doesn't generate oils as much, except in my hair and the sides of my nose. So, I help maintain plasticity by drinking lots of water, and using the vinegar/hand cream treatment. You smell like a salad for a little bit, but who cares? :o)
When I glaze, I ALWAYS wear gloves. I buy latex examination gloves by the case, and will go through 10 to 15 pair in a single glazing session. But, my hands don't dry out, and I don't get skin oil resist on the pots. I still use the vinegar and cream treatment after a glazing session because the hands sweat inside the gloves.
Just some thoughts,
Tig
in Port Orchard, WA
Richard Aerni on fri 19 mar 04
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 11:33:19 -0800, Tig Dupre
wrote:
>Something I got out of one of the Ceramics Monthly "Ideas" books is to
wash hands in warm water, no soap, after making pots for several hours, and
you're ready to quit for a while. Then, squirt a little plain, white
vinegar onto your hands and rub it in, all the way to the elbows. Let it
dry, then rub in some of your favorite hand cream. I use the Avon Silicone
Glove.
A doctor of Chinese medicine (don't know why, but it seems like a qualifier
to give serious advice in this regard) told me to mix a half cup of cider
vinegar in a couple of gallons of tap water and keep my hands immersed in
this for a couple of minutes several times per day. It seems to help. Of
course, I don't always have it together to either have the mix on hand, or
to do the treatment faithfully.
I would concur about the latex examination gloves. I have used them for
glazing for many years. I usually only use two or three pairs per
kilnload, but they are inexpensive and save lots of wear and tear on the
hands, not to mention protecting the skin from any harmful things in which
it might be in contact. I would advise any interested parties to get the
powdered latex examination gloves, and not the vinyl plastic ones. They
are obtained at any pharmacy in boxes of 50, for approximately $6-8 US
dollars.
Best,
Richard Aerni
Rochester, NY
Cheryl Weickert on sat 20 mar 04
We have found that the purple nitrile gloves last longer and are easier to
use than the latex gloves are. They cost a little bit more but can be
reused and are easy to put back on after they have been used.
Interesting I just found the box they come in and it says on the box that
they are resistant to a wider range of chemicals than vinyl or latex. No
interest in the company just a good product.
Pinky in MN with a foot of snow on the ground yet waiting for spring.
On Fri, 19 Mar 2004 17:22:58 -0500, Richard Aerni
wrote:
>I would concur about the latex examination gloves. I have used them for
>glazing for many years. I usually only use two or three pairs per
>kilnload, but they are inexpensive and save lots of wear and tear on the
>hands, not to mention protecting the skin from any harmful things in which
>it might be in contact. I would advise any interested parties to get the
>powdered latex examination gloves, and not the vinyl plastic ones. They
>are obtained at any pharmacy in boxes of 50, for approximately $6-8 US
>dollars.
>
>Best,
>Richard Aerni
>Rochester, NY
annsemple on sat 20 mar 04
Tig
Just curious - why the vinegar? Does changing the pH of the skin make it
more receptive or something? (I tried it before writing back, and it takes
longer to absorb so it doesn't speed up absorption.I do like the salad
dressing smell - maybe it's an olfactory treatment. But it has been 10
minutes since I put the vinegar then hand cream on and it still is on the
surface - of my hands and keyboard! :-))
Also - do you keep your hands bag blamed under the latex gloves? It seems it
would be a good time for a treatment since the gloves would protect your
hands from the glaze and the pots from your hands at the same time.
Ann
annsemple@shaw.ca
oooO
( )Clayfoot Crockery
\ ( Victoria, B.C. Canada
\ _ )
Chris Schafale on sat 20 mar 04
I use vinegar also, and I assume it must be something about pH balancing
the skin. Glazes in particular can be quite alkaline, and the vinegar
neutralizes that. I just put a little on my hands, rub it around, then rinse with
plain water -- seems to provide the same benefit without as much smell.
Chris
On 20 Mar 2004 at 8:28, annsemple wrote:
> Tig
> Just curious - why the vinegar? Does changing the pH of the skin make
> it more receptive or something? (I tried it before writing back, and
> it takes longer to absorb so it doesn't speed up absorption.I do like
> the salad dressing smell - maybe it's an olfactory treatment. But it
> has been 10 minutes since I put the vinegar then hand cream on and it
> still is on the surface - of my hands and keyboard! :-))
>
> Also - do you keep your hands bag blamed under the latex gloves? It
> seems it would be a good time for a treatment since the gloves would
> protect your hands from the glaze and the pots from your hands at the
> same time. Ann annsemple@shaw.ca oooO ( )Clayfoot Crockery
> \ ( Victoria, B.C. Canada
> \ _ )
>
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--
Light One Candle Pottery
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, USA
(south of Raleigh, NC)
www.lightonecandle.com
NEW email: chris at lightonecandle dot com
(insert the @ and . as appropriate)
John Rodgers on sun 21 mar 04
A few years ago, I got a recipe from someone - Lela Martens I beleive -
for a home-made hand conditioner that I really liked. It was a mix of
vasoline, baby powder, and tea tree oil. For me it worked great, others
who tried a sample of mine liked it as well. I would share the recipe
but along the way it has been lost. I still have a small supply of this
left that I will use up, and then need to make more. Hopefully whomever
has the recipe will share.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Lee Love on sun 21 mar 04
I agree with the person who said our glaze materials are far more
hazardous in the dry state. While our skins are pretty good barriers
against toxins, our lungs don't fare so well.Every potter uses silica,
but we can choose not to use toxic materials.
If you glaze bucket consists mostly of feldspar, clay and silica and
maybe calcium carbonate, your hands are probably going to be pretty
safe. If you use soda ash or unwashed wood ash in your glaze, then you
have to make sure you wash your hands right away.
Also, after firing, there is not as much to be concerned about if there
is any leaching. A good safety rule: "Garbage in, garbage out." Keeping
the garbage out of your glaze is the safest way, because every firing
has some variation and you cannot be sure unless you test work from
every firing.
Common sense goes a long way.
-- Lee In Mashiko http://mashiko.us
Tig Dupre on mon 22 mar 04
-----------------------------<>----------------------------------
From: annsemple
Just curious - why the vinegar? ...do you keep your hands bag blamed under the latex gloves?
-----------------------------<>----------------------------------
Ann,
I think the vinegar changes the pH of the skin's natural acidity that has been reduced by water and abrasion, and leaching of moisture from chemicals. I really don't know, but perhaps some of the EMTs or physicians out there might know. I just know it works.
I tried the bag balm/extra lotion under the examination gloves. Once. I made the gloves nearly impossible to get on, and they slid on hands and fingers too much to be good for gripping the pots. So, now I put the lotions on *after* glazing.
Strange, but true...
I got an email from Richard Aerni. He said that a Chinese fellow told him to soak his hands daily in a mix of water and cider vinegar. No reasons, just that it works.
Could be one of those old folk tales, with some basis in experience.
Keep on slingin' that mud,
Tig
in Port Orchard, WA
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