Recently I read an article where lung cancer in non-smokers is increasing in the United States and people aren’t being tested for it as it’s generally not considered a risk.  As potters/ceramicists we may have an increased danger from free silica in our studios. 

We use a Molekular air purifier in our house.  We love it but it may not be heavy duty enough for the rigors of a studio.  (I’ll put the links below)

Bailey Pottery Ceramic  Supplies and Pottery Equipment sell air filtration systems.  (I’m sure other pottery equipment stores do as well I just haven’t researched them) 

Matthew Kelly Pottery uses Environklenz in his studio and speaks of it in a video.

An inexpensive temporary solution comes from Ask This Old House where they use a box fan and air filters for a solution in work shops.  

Keith Brown Maker of Things has several videos on his You tube Channel  Rag ‘N’Bone Brown  for dust extraction.  It’s a great DIY woodworking etc… channel.

Bailey Ceramic Supplies and Pottery Equipment  baileypottery.com

https://www.baileypottery.com/store-dept-pottery-ceramic-studio-equipment/store-studio-safety/store-studio-safety-air-cleaners.html

Matthew Kelly Pottery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2Y69jtuXm4

environklenz.com

Keith Brown Maker of Things “Rag”N”Bone Brown”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCu4kTyRWdM

Ask This Old House Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw7fUMhNov8

Please do your own  research, use the links below and find the solution best for your shop.  See You in the Next Blog

I have recently unloaded a glaze firing and new images should be on the website in the next few days.  Don’t forget to go to the contact page and become a subscriber and receive all the news of what’s happening at 

ken horstmanstudios.com  Also if you are looking to create your own website consider using Format, use this link to get started https://format.grsm.io/kenhorstman1651  Its the web host I use and I am an affiliate.

Most potters come with a system for testing their glazes,  experimenting with new glazes and the multitude of glaze variations.  there are as many ways to do glaze tests as there are the potters who make them.  After making pots and testing glazes for over forty years I sure have accumulated a lot of test tiles and notes on the test.  Recently I found that making digital images of my glaze tiles and making a data base of them and my notes is a real space saver.  In my data base I cross reference and link color, temperature(cone), ingredients etc… Along with anything else I discover.  It’s a little time consuming in the beginning but once you get started its a time saver as you can search results under a multitude of keywords and saves dulplication. 

Hope this gives you another idea for best studio practices.  if you like to  hear a longer description and an actual entry let me know by contacting me on the contact page.   See you in the  next blog.