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canvas squares ,not a health and safety issue

updated mon 21 jun 04

 

Vince Pitelka on fri 18 jun 04


> Linda- I am very new at this, having made 8 small squares and used them
> twice so far, but what about keeping them damp in a large plastic tub?
> Since they are brought to a damp state in order to be used, why not store
> them that way? If all the edges are dry when a pot is removed, a quick
> spray of water, and put it back in the box. Or, each student could have a
> large zip-lock bag and take care of their own.

Ann -
You may have discovered a new system for using the canvas squares. No one
else I have ever known of has had any luck getting them to stick when they
are wet or damp. I have been using the canvas-square system since 1969, and
I have always dried them completely between uses. The idea there is that
the when you apply a thin smear of gritless slurry to the wheelhead and
press the canvas square in place, the dry slurry from the last use absorbs
the moisture from the wet slurry, cinching the canvas down to the wheelhead
very securely when you squeegee it with your rubber rib. I have had
students try to re-use canvas squares while they were still damp, and their
pots often slip off the wheel in rather spectacular fashion.

But, more power to you if you have found another way to make this work. But
I think Gayle Bair is right. If these squares were stored damp, they would
mold and decay very quickly.

This really is a non-issue. There is no dust problem with the dry
slip-coated canvas squares.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

Ann Brink on sat 19 jun 04


Vince- I am using squares on particle board, not on a wheelhead. Most
likely the bat is sucking up the extra moisture as I squeegee the canvas to
seal it. I did find that if the top of the canvas is too wet, naturally the
clay ball doesn't want to stick, so I remove extra moisture with a rag until
it feels right. I am making no attempt to keep my squares damp- it's easy
enough to re-slip them. I just thought if Linda was worried about dust they
could stay damp, but I'm sure you're right- they might mold (as Gail also
said) and there's no need.

Good firings,
Ann Brink in Lompoc CA
>
> Ann -
> You may have discovered a new system for using the canvas squares. No one
> else I have ever known of has had any luck getting them to stick when they
> are wet or damp. I have been using the canvas-square system since 1969,
and
> I have always dried them completely between uses. The idea there is that
> the when you apply a thin smear of gritless slurry to the wheelhead and
> press the canvas square in place, the dry slurry from the last use absorbs
> the moisture from the wet slurry, cinching the canvas down to the
wheelhead
> very securely when you squeegee it with your rubber rib. I have had
> students try to re-use canvas squares while they were still damp, and
their
> pots often slip off the wheel in rather spectacular fashion.
>
> But, more power to you if you have found another way to make this work.
But
> I think Gayle Bair is right. If these squares were stored damp, they
would
> mold and decay very quickly.
>
> This really is a non-issue. There is no dust problem with the dry
> slip-coated canvas squares.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>.

Vince Pitelka on sat 19 jun 04


I cannot follow the logic. If handling dry clay covered squares is okay how
do I convince students of the need to wash tools after use , clean their
wheels at end of class and convince an administration that damp mopping
floors is a need not a want?

Linda -
This really is not an issue, and I expect that your students will understand
the difference. There is no dust created as the canvas squares dry on a
rack, and the dry slip coating is tight on the surface and produces no dust
in the small amount of handling, and as soon as you apply it to the
wheelhead there is moisture present and thus no dust. I do not know what I
have to do to further convince you. There simply is no dust problem with
these canvas squares. There are many other areas of studio practice where
you have to worry about dust, and it sounds like you are very diligent in
that regard, and that you set a very good example for your students. So if
you think the canvas bat system sounds good, go ahead and use it in your
studio, as long as you can arrange a suitable system for drying the canvas
squares.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

Linda Rosen on sat 19 jun 04


Vince

With respect.
I cannot follow the logic. If handling dry clay covered squares is okay =
how
do I convince students of the need to wash tools after use , clean their
wheels at end of class and convince an administration that damp mopping
floors is a need not a want? Simpler to say that some studio practices =
that
work well for lone potters just do not translate to large scale and =
leave it
at that. I think my concern was valid and , in fact, is part of my job
description. I am working hard to keep my program ultra clean to prevent
health and safety issues being used as an excuse for shutdown. I was not
discounting your method as unusable I was just asking for management =
ideas
that would allow me to take advantage of a system that seems =
advantageous
save this one glitch. I do welcome the ideas that have come forth even
though some are not usable , like the bags, in the end.... but I am =
thinking
that having students store DRY squares in bags may have some =
possibilities.
I thank you all and I thank you Vince, too, for your input .

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Vince =
Pitelka
Sent: June 18, 2004 10:46 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: canvas squares ,not a health and safety issue

> Linda- I am very new at this, having made 8 small squares and used =
them
> twice so far, but what about keeping them damp in a large plastic tub?
> Since they are brought to a damp state in order to be used, why not =
store
> them that way? If all the edges are dry when a pot is removed, a =
quick
> spray of water, and put it back in the box. Or, each student could =
have a
> large zip-lock bag and take care of their own.

Ann -
You may have discovered a new system for using the canvas squares. No =
one
else I have ever known of has had any luck getting them to stick when =
they
are wet or damp. I have been using the canvas-square system since 1969, =
and
I have always dried them completely between uses. The idea there is =
that
the when you apply a thin smear of gritless slurry to the wheelhead and
press the canvas square in place, the dry slurry from the last use =
absorbs
the moisture from the wet slurry, cinching the canvas down to the =
wheelhead
very securely when you squeegee it with your rubber rib. I have had
students try to re-use canvas squares while they were still damp, and =
their
pots often slip off the wheel in rather spectacular fashion.

But, more power to you if you have found another way to make this work. =
But
I think Gayle Bair is right. If these squares were stored damp, they =
would
mold and decay very quickly.

This really is a non-issue. There is no dust problem with the dry
slip-coated canvas squares.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

_________________________________________________________________________=
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Lynda Harrington on sat 19 jun 04


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ann Brink"
To:
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: canvas squares ,not a health and safety issue


> Vince- I am using squares on particle board, not on a wheelhead. Most
> likely the bat is sucking up the extra moisture as I squeegee the canvas
to
> seal it. I did find that if the top of the canvas is too wet, naturally
the
> clay ball doesn't want to stick, so I remove extra moisture with a rag
until
> it feels right. I am making no attempt to keep my squares damp- it's easy
> enough to re-slip them. I just thought if Linda was worried about dust
they
> could stay damp, but I'm sure you're right- they might mold (as Gail also
> said) and there's no need.
>
> Good firings,
> Ann Brink in Lompoc CA
> > >
> > Ann -
> > You may have discovered a new system for using the canvas squares. No
one
> > else I have ever known of has had any luck getting them to stick when
they
> > are wet or damp. I have been using the canvas-square system since 1969,
> and
> > I have always dried them completely between uses. The idea there is
that
> > the when you apply a thin smear of gritless slurry to the wheelhead and
> > press the canvas square in place, the dry slurry from the last use
absorbs
> > the moisture from the wet slurry, cinching the canvas down to the
> wheelhead
> > very securely when you squeegee it with your rubber rib. I have had
> > students try to re-use canvas squares while they were still damp, and
> their
> > pots often slip off the wheel in rather spectacular fashion.
> >
> > But, more power to you if you have found another way to make this work.
> But
> > I think Gayle Bair is right. If these squares were stored damp, they
> would
> > mold and decay very quickly.
> >
> > This really is a non-issue. There is no dust problem with the dry
> > slip-coated canvas squares.
> > Best wishes -
> > - Vince
> >.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Hendrix, Taylor J. on sun 20 jun 04


Hey Linda (and Vince):

I'm imagining a class of 4th and 5th graders rushing in to class, eager
to start. They have to wait while others get to class so they fiddle.
And what can be more fun than smacking the edge of the wedging table or
the splash pan with a dry canvas square and watching the billowing
clouds form around you? I share your concerns with a class of young,
young neophytes.

I so wanted to wash the cloth covered boards we use for our summer
pottery class BEFORE the students came in to class, but every time I was
too slow. I watched the first day as students took their pin tools and
rubbed off the dried clay into sinister piles of clay flower. Oh Lawd,
give us strenth.=20

Taylor
Waco, TX
http://www3.baylor.edu/~Taylor_Hendrix/tjpots.htm=20

-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Linda Rosen
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 8:17 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: canvas squares ,not a health and safety issue

Vince

With respect.
I cannot follow the logic. If handling dry clay covered squares is okay
how
do I convince students of the need to wash tools after use , clean their
wheels at end of class and convince an administration that damp mopping
floors is a need not a want? Simpler to say that some studio practices
that
work well for lone potters just do not translate to large scale and
leave it
at that. ...