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transite: was re: asbestos bats

updated mon 18 apr 05

 

Wayne Seidl on sat 16 apr 05


Transite is not "strictly" asbestos. It has gotten a bad rap
associated with asbestos, and all products containing asbestos.
Transite is the brand name of a board using asbestos to _lighten_and
strengthen_ the weight of the cement of which the board was formed.
(I know this because of discussions years ago between a manufacturer
and my grandfather. We used Transite board to form planting beds in
the family greenhouses...lasted 60+ years...still there today.)

Yes, Transite does contain asbestos fibers, but given reasonable
care, it will last forever, holds up to moisture and dirt EXTREMELY
well, and is not (as) friable as other asbestos products. It is
also MUCH stronger than the equivalent thickness of "pure" cement
board, which is why it was made in the first place. There are still
hundreds of thousands of homes dotted throughout the country that
contain asbestos shingles as siding, for example. Many of these
shingles bear the name "Transite" on them.=20

Transite was replaced by HardieBoard, which does not contain
asbestos, once asbestos was removed from the market. =20

No one in my family has died of exposure to it, contracted emphysema
or any lung malady from it, or suffered from it in any way other
than occasionally dropping a piece on their foot.

Put the "Transite is asbestos!!" story in the same category as
"Saccharin causes cancer!!"=20

Just my $0.02.

Wayne Seidl


-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John
Kudlacek
Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 10:19 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: asbestos bats

Yes and no to the asbestos bat question. I know of no commercially
produced asbestos bats however I had a student make some once. They
were
simply cut out of 1/4" asbestos board called "Transite". They served
well
because they were light compared to plaster as well as being
absorbent and
durable. This board was at one time used as backing for kilns.
Anyway,
when all the scare came out regarding asbestos the individual quit
using
these bats. I think the material is "outlawed" nowadays. I was
able to
scrounge some that was hidden, awaiting proper disposal, and it now
serves
as backing for my Olsen Kiln. What worried me most was cutting the
stuff.
I managed somehow and I aint dead yet.
Over the years there has been conflicting information regarding
the
hazzards of asbestos and law suits put the main manufacturer, "Johns
Mansville", out of business. To my knowledge, critics have lightened
up a
bit on how dangerouos it is.
John Kudlacek

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John Rodgers on sun 17 apr 05


Wayne, ....and all.

At last......a rational voice about asbestos.

Natural gas is dangerous!!! It kills by burning, exploding,
suffocating, poisoning.
Gasoline is dangerous!!! It kills by burning, exploding, suffocating,
poisoning
Asbestos is dangerous!!! It kills by causing cancer.

All three of these, plus many, many others, are completely benign and
useful- IF PROPERLY HANDLED!!!!

People get all amped over what they don't understand, and cause
un-necessary difficulties for all.

I had a dealing with a banker over a big kiln that had refractory fiber
in it. He said it was to dangerous for the bank to be involved with
because of the fiber. The stuff was/is worked with all the time in
industry. When the proper precautions are observed it is not a problem.
Interesting to note that the banker had NATURAL GAS to heat his home -
in which his family lived, and he drove an SUV using a full tank of
GASOLINE -- that stuff that burns, explodes, suffocates, and poisons.
But he was afraid of a little fiber.

I worked a project in Alaska where John Mansville asbestos siding was
to be applied to a 4 foot wide swath around a school building just below
the roof edge. This was outdoors, up really high up off the ground, out
of reach of everyone. The asbestos siding was a hard-board, compressed
and sealed with a special coating on the outside. Special tools and
equipment were supplied by JM to provide for proper and safe cutting,
handling and installation of the material. All materials has been
delivered on site and was already paid for by the school district. A few
locals got wind of "asbestos" being put in the new school, got to the
news papers, and once the papers got hold of the story the rest was
history. The materials were scrapped, the architects were paid to design
an alternative - and they got paid for the additional work, and the new
supplier got paid for new materials. The school district ate the cost of
materials to the tune of nearly $100,000. The JM asbestos stuff was
taken somewhere and buried, still in the shipping containers. It will
still be there in 10,000 years for the archaeologist of the age to
ponder over.

All this because of lack of knowledge and understanding. What a crock.

My $0.02

Thanks, Wayne

John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL

The
Wayne Seidl wrote:

>Transite is not "strictly" asbestos. It has gotten a bad rap
>associated with asbestos, and all products containing asbestos.
>Transite is the brand name of a board using asbestos to _lighten_and
>strengthen_ the weight of the cement of which the board was formed.
>(I know this because of discussions years ago between a manufacturer
>and my grandfather. We used Transite board to form planting beds in
>the family greenhouses...lasted 60+ years...still there today.)
>
>Yes, Transite does contain asbestos fibers, but given reasonable
>care, it will last forever, holds up to moisture and dirt EXTREMELY
>well, and is not (as) friable as other asbestos products. It is
>also MUCH stronger than the equivalent thickness of "pure" cement
>board, which is why it was made in the first place. There are still
>hundreds of thousands of homes dotted throughout the country that
>contain asbestos shingles as siding, for example. Many of these
>shingles bear the name "Transite" on them.
>
>Transite was replaced by HardieBoard, which does not contain
>asbestos, once asbestos was removed from the market.
>
>No one in my family has died of exposure to it, contracted emphysema
>or any lung malady from it, or suffered from it in any way other
>than occasionally dropping a piece on their foot.
>
>Put the "Transite is asbestos!!" story in the same category as
>"Saccharin causes cancer!!"
>
>Just my $0.02.
>
>Wayne Seidl
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of John
>Kudlacek
>Sent: Saturday, April 16, 2005 10:19 AM
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: asbestos bats
>
>Yes and no to the asbestos bat question. I know of no commercially
>produced asbestos bats however I had a student make some once. They
>were
>simply cut out of 1/4" asbestos board called "Transite". They served
>well
>because they were light compared to plaster as well as being
>absorbent and
>durable. This board was at one time used as backing for kilns.
>Anyway,
>when all the scare came out regarding asbestos the individual quit
>using
>these bats. I think the material is "outlawed" nowadays. I was
>able to
>scrounge some that was hidden, awaiting proper disposal, and it now
>serves
>as backing for my Olsen Kiln. What worried me most was cutting the
>stuff.
>I managed somehow and I aint dead yet.
> Over the years there has been conflicting information regarding
>the
>hazzards of asbestos and law suits put the main manufacturer, "Johns
>Mansville", out of business. To my knowledge, critics have lightened
>up a
>bit on how dangerouos it is.
> John Kudlacek
>
>____________________________________________________________________
>__________
>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.
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
>
>
>
>