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vacuums, rainbow

updated wed 23 jun 04

 

Vince Pitelka on fri 18 jun 04


> Hope I'm not repeating someone else's thoughts, but:
> I have a Rainbow Vacuum. It has a tank of water and the particles which
are
> sucked in go into this tank of water. It seems to this person that this
is
> a very safe way to get the job done.

Jean -
I can't see how this is an improvement. The air must be bubbling through
the water, and so what happens to the ultrafine particles that are simply
carried through with the bubbles? What sort of filter is trapping those
particles? And even if there is a filter, how do you know it really is
trapping the ultra-fine silica particles - the most dangerous ones? And if
the Rainbow vacuums are as expensive as Lisa Skeen says, why would anyone
buy a Rainbow for the studio when they could by a Beam or Galaxy stationary
vacuum system for the same amount or less money?
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/

foxpots on fri 18 jun 04


Hi Folks,

Hope I'm not repeating someone else's thoughts, but:
I have a Rainbow Vacuum. It has a tank of water and the particles which are
sucked in go into this tank of water. It seems to this person that this is
a very safe way to get the job done.

Jean Wadsworth Cochran
http://www.foxhollowpottery.com

L. P. Skeen on fri 18 jun 04


Hey Jean,

In my youth I had a stint as a Rainbow salesperson, and I have to concur; I
think they're great. The only drawback is the price, which I thought was
ridiculous even when I was selling them - $1100+ at the time (early 90's).
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "foxpots"
> Hope I'm not repeating someone else's thoughts, but:
> I have a Rainbow Vacuum. It has a tank of water and the particles which
are sucked in go into this tank of water. It seems to this person that this
is a very safe way to get the job done.

Gary Harvey on sat 19 jun 04


One question. Some of the chemicals that we use could be acidical. ( for
lack of a better term) Would not that damage the vacuum cleaner. I do have
a Rainbow but I hesitate using it because the vacuum I have been using in
the studio is coated with chemicals. I am scared that they could harm the
Rainbow and the cheap unit is cheaper to repair and replace.. I don't think
Rainbow will guarentee a unit used in these conditions. Your thought
appreciated. Gary Harvey, Palestine TX
----- Original Message -----
From: "foxpots"
To:
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 5:25 PM
Subject: Re: Vacuums, Rainbow


> Dear Vince,
>
> Thank you so much for your input. I'd hate for my lungs to turn to solid
> glass. I got the Rainbow second hand for $500.00, which seemed like a
deal
> to me. Well, back to the drawing board. I'll go back and actually read
the
> thread on this subject. I would like to live for a couple more years.
>
> Jean Wadsworth Cochran
> http://www.foxhollowpottery.com
> > I have a Rainbow Vacuum. It has a tank of water and the particles which
> are
> > sucked in go into this tank of water. It seems to this person that this
> is
> > a very safe way to get the job done.
>
> Jean -
> I can't see how this is an improvement. The air must be bubbling through
> the water, and so what happens to the ultrafine particles that are simply
> carried through with the bubbles? What sort of filter is trapping those
> particles? And even if there is a filter, how do you know it really is
> trapping the ultra-fine silica particles - the most dangerous ones? And
if
> the Rainbow vacuums are as expensive as Lisa Skeen says, why would anyone
> buy a Rainbow for the studio when they could by a Beam or Galaxy
stationary
> vacuum system for the same amount or less money?
> 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/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> __
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.

Vince Pitelka on sat 19 jun 04


> Thank you so much for your input. I'd hate for my lungs to turn to solid
> glass. I got the Rainbow second hand for $500.00, which seemed like a
deal
> to me. Well, back to the drawing board. I'll go back and actually read
the
> thread on this subject. I would like to live for a couple more years.

Jean -
It sounds like you got a great deal on the Rainbow, and it should be
wonderful for your home, but in studio use I really do worry about its
ability to catch those ultra-fine silica particles. It sounds like you are
always looking for a better and safer way to do things, and that is the key
to long-term studio health.
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/

foxpots on sat 19 jun 04


Dear Vince,

Thank you so much for your input. I'd hate for my lungs to turn to solid
glass. I got the Rainbow second hand for $500.00, which seemed like a deal
to me. Well, back to the drawing board. I'll go back and actually read the
thread on this subject. I would like to live for a couple more years.

Jean Wadsworth Cochran
http://www.foxhollowpottery.com
> I have a Rainbow Vacuum. It has a tank of water and the particles which
are
> sucked in go into this tank of water. It seems to this person that this
is
> a very safe way to get the job done.

Jean -
I can't see how this is an improvement. The air must be bubbling through
the water, and so what happens to the ultrafine particles that are simply
carried through with the bubbles? What sort of filter is trapping those
particles? And even if there is a filter, how do you know it really is
trapping the ultra-fine silica particles - the most dangerous ones? And if
the Rainbow vacuums are as expensive as Lisa Skeen says, why would anyone
buy a Rainbow for the studio when they could by a Beam or Galaxy stationary
vacuum system for the same amount or less money?
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/

____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.

Vince Pitelka on sun 20 jun 04


> About those bubbles of the air going through the water carrying the fine
> particles if clay. You should know from your early science classes that
> water has surface tension and that is how a bubble acts. Why not use a
> "wetting agent" in the water that should break those bubbles down and
> release the particles which would then sink to the bottom.

Bonnie -
Sorry to continue my curmudgeonly bent, but the wetting agent will not break
down a bubble. A bubble is going to rise directly to the surface, releasing
any contained silica particles, wetting agent or no wetting agent. It was a
good idea, but I am going to need a lot more convincing before I will
believe that the Rainbow will remove the ultra-fine silica particles.
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/

pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on sun 20 jun 04


Hi Vince, Bonnie...



I imagine one could also suspend some seperate, successive
layers of cloth or mesh, maybe on some wire holders or
other...in the Water resevoir...


Which could break up those 'bubbles'...


...yes?


Phil
el ve


----- Original Message -----
From: "Vince Pitelka"

> > About those bubbles of the air going through the water
carrying the fine
> > particles if clay. You should know from your early
science classes that
> > water has surface tension and that is how a bubble acts.
Why not use a
> > "wetting agent" in the water that should break those
bubbles down and
> > release the particles which would then sink to the
bottom.
>
> Bonnie -
> Sorry to continue my curmudgeonly bent, but the wetting
agent will not break
> down a bubble. A bubble is going to rise directly to the
surface, releasing
> any contained silica particles, wetting agent or no
wetting agent. It was a
> good idea, but I am going to need a lot more convincing
before I will
> believe that the Rainbow will remove the ultra-fine silica
particles.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince

Bonnie Staffel on sun 20 jun 04


About those bubbles of the air going through the water carrying the fine
particles if clay. You should know from your early science classes that
water has surface tension and that is how a bubble acts. Why not use a
"wetting agent" in the water that should break those bubbles down and
release the particles which would then sink to the bottom. I use Basic H
from Shaklee (no connection with the company) as a wetting agent for many
things including watering my house plants. The dirt accepts the water
without just passing through to the saucer. Have you seen the new kitchen
floor cleaner where the dirt goes down to the bottom in the water, same
principle IMO. I do not have a Rainbow vacuum, but often wished that I had.
I would therefore try the wetting agent material. Does the Rainbow Vacuum
have a tube that goes down below the water line?

This is where science, common sense, and imagination using available
material comes together to solve a problem. I am sure there are other
wetting agents available, just I am not familiar with them at the moment.
Ever float a needle on the surface of a glass of water? Growing up I was
fascinated with these experiments. Of course one doesn't realize how these
things stay in your brain for use later in your life when a need arises.

I am no scientist and deduce things, right or wrong, by my common sense.
Many times I am wrong, but then I try to figure out why. Seems like a test
of this idea is worth a try for those of you who have a Rainbow vacuum.

Bonnie Staffel
http://pws.chartermi.net/~bstaffel/default.html
http://www.vasefinder.com/
Potters Council member

Robert Huskey on mon 21 jun 04


Easy enough to find out for sure . Put a piece of duct tape partially (
maybe 1/3 rd) over the exit of the vacuum . If all particles are removed ,
the glue of the tape will be clean after use .


Bob Huskey -- Tallahassee , Fl. USA


> > About those bubbles of the air going through the water carrying the fine
> > particles if clay. You should know from your early science classes that
> > water has surface tension and that is how a bubble acts. Why not use a
> > "wetting agent" in the water that should break those bubbles down and
> > release the particles which would then sink to the bottom.
>
> Bonnie -
> Sorry to continue my curmudgeonly bent, but the wetting agent will not
break
> down a bubble. A bubble is going to rise directly to the surface,
releasing
> any contained silica particles, wetting agent or no wetting agent. It was
a
> good idea, but I am going to need a lot more convincing before I will
> believe that the Rainbow will remove the ultra-fine silica particles.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka