BTW, here's another somewhat related question. Over the years, I've worked with a lot of different materials. I know that when I first started out working with metals, solders, paints, etc... very few craftsmen were concerned about possible health hazards posed by materials or processes. I know that a lot of glazes contain various toxic compounds. How does that effect issues like site situation of a kiln, ventilation, etc... I've noticed that a lot of the people with large production kilns have got them out in their yards instead of in their studios (undoubtedly partly a space issue as much as for the ventilation factor), although up here in the Frozen North, and outdoor kiln can be a bit of a nuisance when you're wading through deep snow to get to it.
Also, how about safety considerations when mixing up glazing compounds, etc... (All of this is stuff I am interested in now.... having exposed myself to all kinds of junk ranging from lead to various acids and other chemical compounds over the space of 30 years... lol. Kind of like closing the gate after the horse has run off... but with this kind of thing, it's never too late to start being more careful as the effects tend to be cumulative).
-croc |
