Lili Krakowski on fri 2 mar 07
On the recommendation of Karen Stevens in Charleston, S.C. I have. been
using salt water (ocean) leader wire for years, because all the other wires
I have tried either kink, or break etc. Unlike Mel, I use old wine corks at
the ends, because then the wire end floats when it gets into the throwing
water bucket.
However!!! Nevertheless (and notwithstanding) I run "dirty" wires over the
edge of a piece of wood to clean them. MUCH easier than running them over
my fingers. At this point new injuries to my hands have to stand in line
for available space, so I do NOT mess around.
Then, good old BARIUM. This is one of our recurrent themes. How safe is
safe, how unsafe is unsafe, what risks, etc.
I do not know Spanish words for male body parts for this, but let us talk
female body parts, like BRAINS, for which I know the Yiddish word, Seichel!
This group--the whole clay world today--is made up of scientists/engineers
and assorted PhDs at one end. and people with severe limitations at the
other. We have renowned experts and we have --I know this is not PC, but
never apologize for accurate language, it is a stab at truth--people who
are brain-damaged in one form or another, people with severe mental illness,
and so on. In the middle there are serious potters with gorgissimo studios,
potters with plain ordinary studios, amateurs who pot in the laundry room.
So when we discuss materials we do not know who will pick up on it. I feel
strongly this is something to watch.
Barium is a serious poison. It is used as rat poison. The conditions we
face are not the conditions in laboratories where rat poison is
manufactured, but those in school or college situations, in a "home"
studio and like that. And when we discuss barium or other serious poisons
that is what we should keep in mind.
There must be a fancy term for this....but when we test something we do NOT
test it under ideal conditions, we test it under the worst conditions.
Rowboats are not tested for leakage on dry land, but when they are in the
water! And like that.
It is interesting that when we get to kiln repair and the like, advice is
always surrounded by safety warnings (thank goodness) TURN OFF the power!
Check the connection! Make sure that ...Double check...better call the
electrician. But when it comes to chemicals somehow the warnings get
dropped...And sarcasm poured on those who urge that dangerous materials (you
KNOW I am talking lithium, as I often have before, as well as barium) do not
belong in the studio.
Again and once more: please consider the audience addressed....
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
sacredclay on mon 5 mar 07
Sweet Lili, I must've missed your past post on lithium. I understand
the feelings toward barium, as I'm not too fond of it either. but why
lithium? I've been told it makes a good sub for barium. Unless that was
really dated or I've been misinformed. Warmly, Kathryn in NC ---
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