Zone Information
Zone Name	Ceramics Zone
Status	Active
Zone Slogan	“Really, REALLY Hot!!!"
Zone Coordinator(s)	Nick LaRocca
Zone Slack	#ceramics-zone
Zone E-mail	kilnzone@i3detroit.org
Reservation Address	Link
Reservation Calendar URL	Link
	HOWTO Reserve Time on Equipment
Zone Color	red
Paypal Button	Pay money to Ceramics Zone

Equipment in Ceramics Zone

There are 3 major pieces of equipment in the Ceramics Zone

Speedball Clay Boss and Skutt model KW kick wheel/powered Throwing Wheel

No training needed for wheel throwing

• This equipment does not require authorization/training to use.

Pottery Wheel Rules

1. Please follow campground rules: Leave the space cleaner than you found it.
2. Please use caution on kick wheel as it has a lot or rotational mass and takes time to slow to a stop
3. Always use designated sink with Clay Trap when washing/rinsing anything with clay.
4. Pottery wheel should be cleaned after each use.This includes: Splash pan, wheel head, plastic bats, water buckets, etc.
5. Pottery tools should be cleaned after use.
6. Clean all clay and clay remnants off of tables.
7. Any active work should be stored in designated storage plots.
8. Please do not leave personal clay reclaim buckets in the zone. There is limited space and we should follow i3Detroit's policy for storage.

Large Ceramic Kiln - Skutt KMT-822-3

How to Get Trained/Authorized

This equipment requires authorization/training to use.

To get training look and post on the SLACK Channel #Ceramics-zone

Skutt Ceramic Kiln individual tool page is HERE

Kiln Zone Rules

1. I3 Ceramics Zone training is required to operate Ceramics Zone equipment.
2. When not firing, all private materials and components need to be removed to member's storage. The metal rack is for PUBLIC materials only.
3. Use Boron Nitride for public molds. Use Kiln Wash for Kiln Shelves.
4. Clean or apply Boron Nitride OUTSIDE. No Exceptions. ALWAYS use a mask. SEE SAFETY
5. When using glass powder and other materials of 100 Micron or less, use a mask. And don't work near other people. (Farther than 20' and near ventilation if possible). SEE SAFETY.
6. Do Not open a working Kiln unless you are the current user or there is an emergency.
7. If you are using a Kiln and need to leave the building, Make sure Your name and cell # is on the KILN IN USE Whiteboard and the Kiln In Use Side is outward.
8. Do not put cardboard or paper near kiln. Plastic is OK if more than 18" from the Kiln.
9. ABSOLUTELY NO FLAMMABLES near the kiln.
10. Please never remove someone else's work from a kiln without their explicit permission.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

1. If needed call 911.
2. If possible and effective, turn off Programmable Controller with green switch.
3. Else, if possible turn OFF Kiln.
4. To contain fire, if necessary, use the fire extinguisher located at the steel post in front of kiln in Ceramics Zone.
5. Call current user at the cell number located on the white board above kiln.

Troubleshooting the Kilns

If any of the kilns are not functioning properly try the following...

1. Is it plugged in properly. If connected to the extension cord, is that plugged in?
2. Has a fuse blown? (how to check Here). Replacement fuses can be found (location). The type required is 30 A cartridge type with a delay.
3. If you are unsure what to do. Please post about the issue in the slack so someone can respond and zone coordinators can be aware of any problems.

Safety

There are 5 areas where we are developing guidelines for respiratory safety. Two main issues, particle size for normal respiratory irritation, and silicosis with silica particulates. Close exposure to small particles, less than 10 microns, and continued exposure to particles less than 50 microns can cause respiratory irratation. To give a rule of thumb, 90% of wheat flour particles are 10-40 microns for typical flour.

Continued exposure to silica particles less than 100 microns can cause silicosis. These are a more serious issue the smaller the particle and the longer the exposure.

• Cleaning molds of Boron Nitride (BN) after a firing or spraying molds with BN is using an aerosol with BN particles of about 10 micron. At present we do all of this outside and with a mask. In the future we may have a HEPA draft box to do this inside.

• Cleaning post-fired Kiln Paper. This is silica particles of 100 microns. We use a mask and use wet paper towels direct to trash. We may get a HEPA shopvac in the future. DO NOT use a regular shop vac.

• Working with Frit Powder. This is silica particles of about 100 microns. Currently, we use a mask and try to keep 20 feet from unmasked personnel currently. This may be overkill. I am looking for more data and may revise this to simply using masks in future. We wet-wipe clean all work surfaces with paper towel to trash after and do not return any plastic spoons or cups to kitchen.

• Working with Silica Flour for creating molds. Same protocol as Frit powder. Silica flour has a distribution of sizes from 10 micron to 125 micron typically.

• Working with Plasters/Cements. Plaster of Paris has somewhat larger particle sizes than cement. Only small amounts of silica. Mask recommended. No boundary issues. Normal powder mixing issues.

All mask should be at least N95, prefferrably N100.

Kiln Zone Gallery