Pottery Studio Guidelines

KEEPING THE STUDIO DUST FREE

  • Always clean when your workstation is in the wet stage.

  • Mop instead of sweep.

  • Wipe all surfaces used with a large sponge and clean water, then dry off with a clean towel - no soap!

  • Bring a clean towel (and apron if you use one) to use.
    …never bring a towel with dry clay on it back into the studio.

  • If you forget your towel and use one of ours, bring it home and wash it before returning it next time you come.

  • Never use sandpaper inside the building for dry clay or glazes - it creates fine dust that hangs in the air and can cause permanent health issues. Step outside and wear a mask if you are sanding.

KEEP THE PLUMBING WORKING

  • The clay trap is changed at the beginning of each session.

  • At the beginning of class, get a small bucket of water to use. It works best if it’s filled up 3/4 of the way so clay can drop to the bottom, leaving relatively clean water at the top.

  • Wash all your tools and brushes in it at the end of class.

  • You’ll get a 15-minute warning before the end of class so you can wrap up and get your area cleaned up.

  • Dump dirty water into the water slop trash can at the end of the session and wipe out the bucket before returning it with tools in it.

  • When cleaning splash pans, use the water in the clay slop trash.

When glazing, use a paper cup for your first rinse of brushes.  At the end of the session, pour the water off into the toilet in the bathroom and throw sludge left in the bottom of the cup in the trash. If dumping water leaves splashes on the toilet seat, please be kind and wipe it off.  Dump the dirty water from your bucket in the “glaze slop”.  NEVER the clay slop.

KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED AND CLEAN

 

MATERIALS

 
 

  • At the beginning of class, inventory your tools. Do the same at the end of class.

  • Return all tools and project boards clean.

  • If you bring your own tools, mark them with your initials.  Anything left behind that is unmarked will become ours.

  • Your instructor or the monitor will advise you as to where to place items you leave needing to dry. 

Never handle another person’s work, especially at the greenware stage.

If an accident happens, and something is broken, please advise the instructor or monitor so we don’t spend hours looking for it in the future.

  • If you are leaving items to dry and be fired, each should have a small paper in it that includes your name, and information about clay type or glaze if other than what is provided by TAH.

  • Food and drink should be kept away from the workspace and a cover on any liquid you are keeping at your workstation.

* We are only using white clay in this studio. Any clay not purchased from TAH must be approved by the Pottery Coordinator or Technician (Fran at the moment) prior to use.  If you are using your own clay you will need to purchase glaze and pay firing fees.

* If the type of clay and glaze you are using is not ours you will need to provide a cookie (a bisqued disk for it to sit on while firing to protect our kiln) and a note stating what is being used (such as: Laguna, 5/6 B-mix or AMACO potters choice). Nothing will be fired without a ticket specifying the clay or glaze.

Sponges: we have 3 types:

  • The round ones are used for clay work.

  • The large oval ones are used for clean-up

  • The bin of odd size sponges are used to support clay as it is drying.  It is OK to cut them to a size that you need if you cannot find one that works for you.

Items that can be purchased:

Clay is $5/kg., which covers the cost of glazing and firing by TAH.

Basic tool kit: $18.

COVID SAFETY

The instructor/monitor will make the call on masks - bring one with you just in case.

Give each other space.  

Stay home if you’re sick.

Our studio is a safe space for the people who attend.  At no time will physical or verbal abuse be tolerated.  Be kind and support one another.

Failure to follow any of the above guidelines will result in not being able to attend classes or studios, without refund for unused classes.

THE PROBLEM WITH CLAY DUST…

Silicosis, a chronic illness commonly known as Potter’s Lung or Potter’s Rot to the pottery community. This damaging disease can easily be prevented with safe practices in the pottery studio, and these precautions will also save the quality of pottery projects.

Silica dust is a common component in rock, sand, and clay, making it especially relevant to pottery activities. This very fine dust can contain other kinds of elements such as copper and chemicals from the clay itself, which can have their own dangerous side effects on your body. To put it plainly, silica dust is almost everywhere within the enclosed space of a pottery studio, making it hard to avoid. It floats up in the air while mixing dry clay, settling on shelves, tables, floors, and the potter, himself. Silica dust is produced in jobs involving construction or masonry, too, though these have the advantage of being in larger facilities and outdoor spaces that give the dust more room to disperse; a small pottery studio creates a concentrated environment that traps in the dust, which puts a potter at greater risk of breathing in the silica while working.

There are a few practices that should become standard for you to perform as a smart potter to lessen your chance of developing Silicosis, and you might be able to save the quality of your pottery while you’re at it. The first step is to make a routine of cleaning your studio, especially after mixing clay. The key to limiting the amount of dust you kick up in the air while cleaning is to take the wet approach. Mop floors instead of sweeping to trap the dust within the wet mop. The same goes for wiping down surfaces, which can be done using a large sponge or wet cloth. With more regular cleaning of all surfaces, a potter can minimize the amount of silica accumulation throughout a studio, reducing the degree of exposure the potter will experience and the build-up of dust on unfinished work. Another good practice to remember while cleaning is to avoid any excessive shaking of towels and aprons within your studio to prevent extra dust from entering the air space.