SAFETY ISSUES

De You Have a Safe Use for Lead?
Does anyone have a safe use for red and white lead and other
dangerous chemicals which have been donated to arts centres
from time to time? Please send information to the Guild, c/o the
edilor,

Eye Protection

Have you wondered whether to buy infrared of ultraviolet protec-
tion glasses for looking tn your kiln’? See the July/August issue of
Clay Times for an anicle by Monona Rossol. This article recom-
mends infrared glasses to protect your eyes from future cataracts,
Lenses with protection [rom infrared-C trinsmission at over
3000nm are considered the best although she observes that many
safety supply stores only have protecuon for infrared-B (1400 to
3000nm)}.

Water Quality and Radon
If you have a basement stucdeo you should test for radon, This is
done by requesting a waterquality report for your home from your
municipality which will usually taclude the medon report Please
note reporting policies may differ fram region to region. The
guide is levels should not exceed 4 picocunies per litre of air,

TECHNO TIP
ELECTRIC KILN WARNING

When I returned from a trip to England in July 1 found that the
temperature in my electric kiln was over 130F-. [ lifted the Jid and
saw that the cone 05 witness cone that ["d left on a post in front
of my lower peephole was a temmoku puddle. The thermocouple,
although still reading the temperature, was gived into the kiln wall
brick - melted porcelain?

Detective work with Len Wemer and 8C Hydro seems to indicaic
thata baltof electnaity hit my wires, probably July 1, and caused
the kiln to fire itself! Luckily the computer musi have a failsafe to
stop the firing after some time of being constantly on My recent
bill is normal so it wasn'ta Long finng, and my shelves still seem
relatively flat, With anew thermocouple, just in case, the kilm is
finng weil,

So the lesson appears to be: if you're going away or if thunder is
threatening UNPLUG the kiln. Turning it off won't do.

| am curous about what happens to wired-in kilns?

Deo send any similar stories or advice to the editor.
Gillian McMillan

Serving Western Canadian

250-716-9966

POTTERS SUPFLY LG

Potters for the past 30 years

On Vancouver Island see our newest dealer
The Pottery Warehouse in Nanaimo

Monday-Friday 9-5 9548 - 192 Street, Surrey, 8.C. VAN 3A9
Saturdays 9-1 Phone: 604-888-3411 Fax: 604-888-4247
E-mail: greenbam@ be. sympatico.ca
Intamet: www. greenban.cam

October 2000

Potters Guild of British Columbia 7