the next step in throwing!

"David Coggins" wrote in message
...
After reading the article, I assume that you wear a mask at all times - at
home and outdoors?

Yes, there are toxic pollutants everywhere, in all parts of our life.

However, we would probably inhale more toxic pollution going to the shops
than we would in a well organised pottery workshop.

Still, if wearing a mask in the workshop makes you feel better, why not!

Wearing a mask when using dry ingredients such as mixing glazes is a must.
When dealing with wet clay in a well cleaned studio, not necessary at all.
Heck there is clay outside in the ground, are you going to wear a mask in
case of inhalation??

Wear a mask when throwing?? Say what. There is no inhalation risk
with
wet
clay. When recycling dry clay and mixing glazes etc etc, yes do wear
a
mask, but throwing, not necessary.

In any confined space where there is dry clay dust, e.g.
from yesterday's throwing, there will be a health risk.
There's got to be a mountain of evidence already that
particulate matter is bad for you; silica dust is especially bad.

So you don't clean up after throwing?? That is the first rule, always
clean
up with a damp cloth or sponge. Throwing is with wet clay therefore no
dust. Cleaning up is essential and a studio must be kept as dust free as
possible. Never dry sweep.


I have to agree with you Annemarie. Dry sweeping is just asking for
trouble.
Dust gets into your lungs, on your greenware, into your glazes, into your
equipment
and kiln...and who knows what's in the dust? Some claymaker somewhere,
or mine technician could have sneezed into it (or worse) with an infectious
disease (can you say TB?), and the spores would still be active. The cat
could have used that pile of trimmings on your floor as a litter box. It's
DIRT,
after all, that we're working with here, not the clean room at IBM.
Wet mop those floors, folks, after you vacuum (and use a good quality filter
in your vacuum, or vent it outside while it's on)
Macho considerations aside, it's YOUR health. Protect it when you can.
Luckily, I live in an area of the country that allows me to work in an open
space year round. I know we are not all so fortunate. And even I use a
set of fans to direct everything away from the space I'm in.
Wayne Seidl

"Wumpus" wrote in message
...

Wear a mask when throwing?? Say what. There is no inhalation risk with
wet
clay. When recycling dry clay and mixing glazes etc etc, yes do wear a
mask, but throwing, not necessary.

Here's a starter link, to aid in your learning.

http://www.eisc.ca/everyday_exposuvre.htm


Huh? this is about general exposure to pollutants in the environment. I am
sure we have all heard about pollutants in building materials. Arsenic used
in treating wood etc.
What this has to do with throwing wet clay in a clean studio I don't know.
I am sure you wash your hands when you finish work, and wet wipe up your
mess. How are you going to breath wet clay? That is the trick, keeping it
wet and cleaning wet.
There are (as mentioned before) when mixing glazes, you are working with dry
material and must wear a mask. When spraying glaze is another.
Heck you would inhale more dust driving down a dusty road than you would wet
throwing clay. Pollutants are everywhere and as potters we do have to be
very careful, but that IMO does not include wearing masks when working with
wet clay.

"wayneinkeywest" ) writes:
Wear a mask when throwing?? Say what. There is no inhalation riskwith wet
clay. When recycling dry clay and mixing glazes etc etc, yes do wear
a mask, but throwing, not necessary.

In any confined space where there is dry clay dust, e.g.
from yesterday's throwing, there will be a health risk.
There's got to be a mountain of evidence already that
particulate matter is bad for you; silica dust is especially bad.

So you don't clean up after throwing?? That is the first rule, always clean
up with a damp cloth or sponge. Throwing is with wet clay therefore no
dust. Cleaning up is essential and a studio must be kept as dust free as
possible. Never dry sweep.

I have to agree with you Annemarie. Dry sweeping is just asking for
trouble.
Dust gets into your lungs, on your greenware, into your glazes, into your
equipment
and kiln...and who knows what's in the dust? Some claymaker somewhere,
or mine technician could have sneezed into it (or worse) with an infectious
disease (can you say TB?), and the spores would still be active. The cat
could have used that pile of trimmings on your floor as a litter box. It's
DIRT,
after all, that we're working with here, not the clean room at IBM.
Wet mop those floors, folks, after you vacuum (and use a good quality filter
in your vacuum, or vent it outside while it's on)
Macho considerations aside, it's YOUR health. Protect it when you can.
Luckily, I live in an area of the country that allows me to work in an open
space year round. I know we are not all so fortunate. And even I use a
set of fans to direct everything away from the space I'm in.
Wayne Seidl

I'm in a studio where proper clean-up is an issue. The floor tends to
get mopped with a dirty string mop and a dirty bucket. I'm sure some
of the clay gets picked up but this method seems to do a good job of
spreading the clay around. The fact that all this arduous mopping
doesn't result in getting the clay off the floor, seems to avoid the
notice of the mopper. When it dries, the clay gets spread around by foot.
We don't have a vacuum with filter nor the money to buy one. Sometimes I
sweep, using sweeping compound (supposed to keep down the dust) and a mask.
Why do I do this? Because whoever made the mess has done nothing and I
don't want all that muck to end up in the mop bucket. Did I mentioned
the uncleaned up spilt glaze? grumble grumble

We're supposed to have a meeting about this. I'm trying to think
of positive ways to point out the error of all this, because I've ended
up nagging and think I am viewed as an irrelevant bitch.

Ah well.

Elaine

What this has to do with throwing wet clay in a clean studio I don't know.

The point is that every studio is unclean to some degree.

I have seen studios at colleges, at local art centers and private
studios. They have all been fairly dirty. People are lazy but even
the biggest clean freak cannot completely get a studio clean.

Given that there will always be clay dust in a pottery environment,
it is wiser to wear a mask. OSHA recommends this too.

I would see if there was a local pottery studio in your area and offer to do
work for them in exchange for priviledges in the studio, i.e., throwing. There
isn't a studio in existance that can't use volunteers.
Marlynn
Marlynn
A day in which I haven't learned something new is a day lost......

"Elaine Stutt" wrote in message
...
I'm in a studio where proper clean-up is an issue. The floor tends to
get mopped with a dirty string mop and a dirty bucket. I'm sure some
of the clay gets picked up but this method seems to do a good job of
spreading the clay around. The fact that all this arduous mopping
doesn't result in getting the clay off the floor, seems to avoid the
notice of the mopper. When it dries, the clay gets spread around by foot.
We don't have a vacuum with filter nor the money to buy one. Sometimes I
sweep, using sweeping compound (supposed to keep down the dust) and a
mask.
Why do I do this? Because whoever made the mess has done nothing and I
don't want all that muck to end up in the mop bucket. Did I mentioned
the uncleaned up spilt glaze? grumble grumble

We're supposed to have a meeting about this. I'm trying to think
of positive ways to point out the error of all this, because I've ended
up nagging and think I am viewed as an irrelevant bitch.

Ah well.

Elaine

Elaine:
Bringing up the health consequences of particle exposure, such as silicosis
might have the effect you desire...that of making people think twice before
leaving a mess.
You don't mention how many use the studio. In my
(albeit limited) studio experience, we had to sign in and out of the studio.
It would be extremely easy to track, then, who made the mess. Anyone
found leaving a mess for someone else to clean up was then charged for
the cleaning, at the current rate of $20 (US) per hour.
One person, who adamantly refused to either clean or pay, was asked
to leave, and find another space. No loss there, she was a lazy cow.

It's YOUR health, after all. Why risk it cleaning up after someone who
doesn't have a clue,
doesn't want one,
couldn't care less.

If that makes me thought of as a nag, or an irrelevant bitch, so be it.
Wayne Seidl

"Wumpus" wrote in message
...

What this has to do with throwing wet clay in a clean studio I don't
know.

The point is that every studio is unclean to some degree.

I have seen studios at colleges, at local art centers and private
studios. They have all been fairly dirty. People are lazy but even
the biggest clean freak cannot completely get a studio clean.

Given that there will always be clay dust in a pottery environment,
it is wiser to wear a mask. OSHA recommends this too.

Each to their own I guess. I am not about to wear a mask when throwing, I
do when spraying or dealing with any dry ingredients. I have not in fact
come across a potter who wears a mask when throwing, but if it makes you
feel happier, )

"wayneinkeywest" wrote in message
...

"Elaine Stutt" wrote in message
...
I'm in a studio where proper clean-up is an issue. The floor tends to
get mopped with a dirty string mop and a dirty bucket. I'm sure some
of the clay gets picked up but this method seems to do a good job of
spreading the clay around. The fact that all this arduous mopping
doesn't result in getting the clay off the floor, seems to avoid the
notice of the mopper. When it dries, the clay gets spread around by
foot.
We don't have a vacuum with filter nor the money to buy one. Sometimes
I
sweep, using sweeping compound (supposed to keep down the dust) and a
mask.
Why do I do this? Because whoever made the mess has done nothing and I
don't want all that muck to end up in the mop bucket. Did I mentioned
the uncleaned up spilt glaze? grumble grumble

We're supposed to have a meeting about this. I'm trying to think
of positive ways to point out the error of all this, because I've ended
up nagging and think I am viewed as an irrelevant bitch.

Ah well.

Elaine

Elaine:
Bringing up the health consequences of particle exposure, such as
silicosis
might have the effect you desire...that of making people think twice
before
leaving a mess.
You don't mention how many use the studio. In my
(albeit limited) studio experience, we had to sign in and out of the
studio.
It would be extremely easy to track, then, who made the mess. Anyone
found leaving a mess for someone else to clean up was then charged for
the cleaning, at the current rate of $20 (US) per hour.
One person, who adamantly refused to either clean or pay, was asked
to leave, and find another space. No loss there, she was a lazy cow.

It's YOUR health, after all. Why risk it cleaning up after someone who
doesn't have a clue,
doesn't want one,
couldn't care less.

If that makes me thought of as a nag, or an irrelevant bitch, so be it.
Wayne Seidl



Totally agree, studio cleaning is absolutely essential. I give childrens
lessons in my own studio so I am scrupulous about cleaning. We all should
be for our own health though.