FrogBlog
Everyone Needs a Good First Aid Kit!
A good first aid kit is a must in all studios and workshops, as accidents can happen anytime, anywhere, and it’s better to be prepared than to find yourself scrambling around for a bandage or disinfectant. Been there, done that! Let's face it... we all know it's gonna happen! A small cut may seem insignificant at the time, but if it gets infected you could be out of action for weeks. This is especially important in a teaching environment so, if you have students, make sure you are prepared! An effective first aid kit provides plasters, bandages, scissors, tweezers, and antiseptic wipes, as well as burn ointment, eye wash, and gauze pads. Here are links to our favorite First Aid Kit essentials: Johnson & Johnson Red Cross All Purpose First Aid Kit Clean, treat, protect, and care for cuts, scrapes, minor burns, itches, pain, skin rashes and insect bites with the Johnson & Johnson Red Cross All Purpose First Aid Kit. This versatile kit contains 140 first aid essentials, including cleansing wipes, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, itch stopping cream, acetaminophen caplets, an instant cold pack, bandages, non-stick pads, rolled gauze, and more. Supplies come packaged in a durable, plastic box that keeps your items accessible, and organized! Medipoint Splinter Out Splinter Remover If you have anything in your studio or workshop, this is a MUST! Maybe, we should have made it #1... as everyone who works in glass knows that those splinters are the worst! Splinter Out is better than a needle because it is steam autoclave sterilized, and has a sharp tri-bevel point that is designed for loosening and pulling out splinters. There are 20 sterile splinter removers per box. Wall Mountable Eye and Skin Flush Station Eyewash Stations are critical! They are intended to mitigate eye injuries when control methods (eyeglasses or protective eyewear) do not prevent exposure to a physical or chemical irritant or biological agent. This Eye and Skin Flush Station includes two bottles of eye isotonic buffered solution with wall mount. Plus, an eyecup for easily focusing the fluid stream into affected eyes. Natural Burn Ointment / Silver Sulfadiazine Cream When you accidentally touch the bead or piece of metal because it looks cool... it becomes pretty important to have a good burn cream close by! FYI... This was actually the first thing I ever used from our first aid kit! ASAP365 Silver Gel by American Biotech Labs is formulated using their unique and patented 20 PPM SilverSol Technology solution. This silver gel can not only help to hydrate your skin but has also been shown to promote natural healing so, it's perfect to use as a natural burn ointment. WARNING: If you have a sulfur allergy, this is NOT for you! Keep in mind that a first aid kit is meant to be used to treat minor cuts, abrasions, and burns. You should never rely on a first aid kit to handle more severe injuries. As an Amazon Associate, Kiln Frog may earn from qualifying purchases.
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Peepholes and Venting
Last week, we got an e-mail with a bunch of great questions about peepholes and venting your kiln when using powdered enamels--like EZ Fire enamels--dry on copper. So, we thought that we would give you some insights on venting for all kinds of enamels on glass, and metals too. Hopefully, this Q&A from Gail will help you in the future... it always helps me! Why does my kiln have a Peephole? Large peepholes (viewports), tapered for a wide view without heat loss, were originally designed for manual kilns so you could see when the pyrometric cones bent. With venting as their secondary function, peepholes allow oxygen to be drawn into the kiln’s chamber and serve as an escape passage for metal oxides, smoke, and water vapor. Do I need a Peephole Plug? Peephole plugs are used to stop air from entering the kiln, not to prevent heat loss. But a kiln shouldn't be vacuum sealed, so It is beneficial to have some air entering the kiln at all times, It is not necessary that the plugs fit tightly. What is the best shape for a Peephole Plug? Peephole plugs are typically made of a lightweight ceramic material that can handle thermal stress well. Many plugs are interchangeable with different kilns, and the type of plug that is chosen is typically based on individual preference. The plugs with a tapered shape are designed to fit in just about any hole. Should I leave the Peephole hole open or closed during firing? For plain old glass fusing and slumping, always fire the kiln with the plug in the hole as it helps the kiln reach temperature more easily. If you chose to leave the peephole out during firing to improve the oxygenation inside the kiln, be aware that this may cause a cold spot in the kiln. When firing dry enamels on copper, leave the plug in the hole until you reach the top processing temperature, then remove it for proper oxygenation of colors as you insert your trivets and fork. When you are firing red, orange, or yellow enamels you should remove the plug so that more oxygen circulates in the firing chamber, keeping the colors bright. When firing liquid enamels on glass, leave the kiln vented or plug out until your reach 1000F. Then place the plug back in the hole. SOME (not all) liquid enamels need oxygen to develop to their juiciest potential! If you want the kiln to cool faster, remove the plug. If you are doing a wax burnout, remove the plug. If you are doing a hollow core metal clay project, remove the plug. Are there fumes that come out of the Peephole that I should be careful of? That depends on what brand of enamels... SAFETY FIRST! OLDER ENAMELS MAY CONTAIN LEAD THAT CAN BURN OFF IN THE TORCH OR KILN and will require proper kiln ventilation of the area. Always do your research on enamels before you plan to use them.
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