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manganese and other hazmats

updated tue 10 may 05

 

Judy Rohrbaugh on mon 9 may 05


I want you all to know that I do appreciate the info on these materials.
I never thought to introduce myself to the board, but I started with pottery
by learning in school(s) in the 70's, then went on to a studio out of my
house. Back then, I took all of the current info that I had on materials and
used only what I knew to be the least dangerous. I mixed my own clay for
years, one of the reasons was that I would know exactly what was in it. I kept up
with things by reading CM. Lili, I recognize your name, I believe you wrote
some things for CM? In the early 90's I had to take some years off from
doing pots, so I ended up selling my entire studio. I have just come back to it
a few years ago. This time I am not mixing my own clay, which is how it came
about that I decided to try a different body-the one with the manganese. It
is one of three bodies that I use.
I appreciate getting caught up with what materials are now considered
harmful, but at the time I learned about clay were not discussed.
To help put some of your minds at ease, my studio is about as reasonably
clean as I can keep it, especially as it is part of the house, I have a bunch of
masks all kept in plastic bags that I often wear, and my kiln is in the far
end of the garage on a separate box. No fumes coming into the house, plus I
can open the garage doors when I fire.
When I mix my glazes I take the bucket out into the garage and mix there so
as to not contaminate my workspace.
I also have a habit of trimming pots quite wet, probably due to my space
shortage- make ten, trim ten, and decorate ten.

This is quite a welcome change from when I was in school! Back then I was
probably the conservative one in regards to usage of materials.
Judy

Judy Rohrbaugh
_fineartstoneware@aol.com_ (mailto:fineartstoneware@aol.com)
Silver Lake, OH