Comments on: Playing around with lead http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/11/playing-around-with-lead/ For a well-considered visual environment Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:21:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: pNielsen http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/11/playing-around-with-lead/#comment-12367 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:42:38 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=1177#comment-12367 Lead, sure, but not really in the form of sinkers (unless you’re chewing on them). For ceramacists the most significant danger comes when working with dry raw materials (ie lead frit, or chrome or manganese). What you can end up with if you aren’t careful is a heavy metal poisoning.

]]> By: Arnold http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/11/playing-around-with-lead/#comment-12366 Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:31:43 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=1177#comment-12366 The arts use a lot of materials that can pose dangers to artists, especially after long-term exposure. Are there any health and safety concerns working with these metals?

]]> By: pNielsen http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/11/playing-around-with-lead/#comment-12361 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 18:12:07 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=1177#comment-12361 I don’t remember if I’ve done pennies. Doesn’t the copper turn everything pink if it gets into the soft brick though? That’s part of what’s kept me from incorporating copper tubing into my work. I did, in college, try a 1964 dime. 1964 was the last year, IIRC, dimes were all silver. It melted all over the kiln shelf and taught me a good lesson about community studio life :p

I do mess around with a variety of gemstones in the kiln. Rubies and sapphires do well; jade turns yellow; herkimer cracks and comes out looking like a prism. Flourite and lapis don’t make it through a firing. I have diamonds in the studio I haven’t tried, bought cheaply on Ebay. They aren’t jeweler quality, but they work for me!

]]> By: Julie http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/08/11/playing-around-with-lead/#comment-12360 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:36:31 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=1177#comment-12360 I like it! A lot! Experimentation is wonderful. Electric kiln? Have you ever tried a penny? I’ve heard the zinc in them can grown into crystals.

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