Protecting Small Glass Kilns

A hobby of creating warm glass art is something that can be very rewarding for any hobbyist or artist. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your work coming out exactly as you visualized it in the first place. However, while warm glass artwork can be very rewarding, it can also be dangerous. For example, even asmall glass kilncan create a major disaster unless enough safety precautions are taken. Unfortunately, many people do have to suffer through some disasters because they are not aware of all the safety precautions that they should be taking. Here is a list of some safety precautions pertaining to thesmall glass kilnto prevent you from making the same mistake.

1.Placing thesmall glass kiln: Aglass kilncan generate a lot of heat while in operation and this heat can transfer even through its surface. Therefore, the location where you place yoursmall glass kilnis as crucial as anything else. Ideally, your kiln should be placed on some noninflammable substance such as cement. Therefore, whatever you do, do not put the kiln on a surface like wood because this increases the danger of fire. Furthermore, it is also important that the kiln is placed in such a location that no inflammable object is near it. This includes all kinds of chemical based household objects, oils and even paints. Make sure that there is nothing like this around the kiln for at least three feet.

2.Opening the kiln for interim procedures: Some forms of warm glass art require that the artist open thesmall glass kilnwhile it is hot. These usually involve opening the kiln and making modifications to the mold inside such as combing or topping off. These procedures can be extremely dangerous and risky if you do not take the right precautions. When conducting such procedures, you should make sure that you are protected with proper gear such as gloves. In addition to this, it is also prudent to turn off the kiln from the main power source before you try these procedures. Doing this would prevent you from suffering any kind of electrical burns.

3.The need for eye protection: It is also important that you use the right eyewear when working with warm glass in thesmall glass kiln. Many artists do not realize the importance of eyewear because the effects are not immediate. In different words, looking at hot and red glass molds without protection can increase the chances of you suffering from cataracts at a later stage in life. This is why eyewear is important for someone working with hot glass. Another reason why eyewear can be crucial is that when glass bubbles burst they can cause a lot of pain in the eyes.

4.Contingencies: The most obvious safety precaution when working with anything hot is that you should always have a fire extinguisher on hand. The situation is the same if you are using a small glass kiln and dealing with warm glass molds.

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