Ventilation and Safety
by Elaine Luther
I think it’s terribly revealing that in the world of jewelry there is only one book on safety. And it wasn’t published until 1999. I’m talking, of course, about The Jewelry Workshop Safety Report by the prolific Charles Lewton-Brain.
It’s a must own for everyone who does anything with jewelry beyond beading.
So, ventilation. It’s an oft-neglected bit in jewelry studios. Partly because it’s expensive and partly because it’s complicated, or at least, it seems like it is.
Charles dedicates a page or two to the subject, getting you started and referring you to Ventilation: A Practical Guide for Artists, Craftspeople, and others, by Clark, Cutter and McCrane.
Here’s an article by Charles at ganoksin. Read it here.
Read a ton about ventilation at ganoksin, including what lots of folks do in real life in their studios. Here’s a picture of Alan Lewis’s set up, with a list of parts. See it here.
Great info, again. I’m asthmatic, and I agonized for the longest about what kind of ventilation system to set up in my studio. Turns out I have two–the Vanivac, for metal dust, and the Solder Pure, for soldering fumes.
After I bought the systems, I wondered if it was overkill, but I tell you I sure sleep a lot better at night having them around. They’re a bit pricey, but I think they’re worth the investment and the peace of mind.
Oh, I would love to hear more about your vent systems! Where did you get them? So many people skimp on safety stuff.
Elaine