Need Studio Help!...Please...

[sugarenie]

We finally put my torching table together but I need help as far as shielding my area from the other side of the room and also floor covering...The mat that is under my table is a welder's mat but as you can see the rest of the floor is carpet...I am thinking of putting some kind of screen up to divide the room and another welder's mat next to the other one...I want to start torching but also want to be as safe as possible in this area...Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful...Please don't tell me to pull up the carpet, just not possible...Thanks...

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[RSimmons]

What are you using for ventilation? Open doors/windows won't be sufficient to remove combustion gasses from your torch area and you'll fill the room with fumes. You need to actively ventilate directly from your immediate torch area, preferably with an exhaust hood that covers your work table and vents to the outdoors. You'll also need make-up air to balance what you're drawing out, taken from a source remote from your exhaust port.

Robert

[Solana]

Unfortunately, when making beads, glass can and will fly all over the place. :) If you don't want to pull up the carpet, you may want to try laying down more welding mats out around your work area. The furthest I've ever had glass fly was a few feet behind me, so just be prepared.

Also, I agree with the ventilation. You need to use a vent hood with an exhaust fan when working indoors.

Oh...and be sure to keep your propane outside if you're not using natural gas!

Good luck!

[sugarenie]

OK...Here are more details...As for ventilation we have 2 exhaust fans that will be in the window to the left of the table...I am opening another window wayyyy (about 6 windows over) to the right of my table and there are also two HUGH french doors that lead into the house that are also left open to replace air...As for gas, I am using the #1 MAPP gas canisters for now...

I am not investing in a vent hood until I know that I will be lampworking on a regular basis, so I hope the fans will be enough for the time I am practicing on my first 100 beads...Then I will decide...

I guess I'll have to bit the bullet and get 2 more welder matts...They are expensive so maybe I'll just splurg and get a vent hood as well...

How do you all get started when everything is so darn expensive...It will take me a year just to get set up to see if I even can do lampworking in my home...HELP!...How did you first get started?...

[Terryd]

Eileen, Bit by bit you will get there! I've been working on setting up my space in the garage and it's almost there! I had to first clean up the place, get it organized, then discovered that there were some 2x4's that needed to be replaced because of termite damage. Then decided a window needed to be put in to see the backyard, and the little existing on the side needed to be replaced. Then needed electricity put in so a place for the kiln. Then a table, .......

I'm hoping to start working next weekend (this weekend I have houseguests!).

It's worth investing and taking the time (no matter how frustrating it is!) to get set up correctly to protect your home and your health. Just think, it is investment in the long run for an 'addiction' (okay just kidding not an addition!) an artform that will fulfill you for the rest of your life!

(Okay I went a little over the top, but I love flameworking!)

Terry

[RSimmons]

I think that you'll be surprised at how much torch fume you collect in your house using your ventilation scheme, especially noticeable with a Hothead. You really need to collect the gasses above and in front of the torch, as the hot gasses rise quickly and are difficult to capture from the side. There's a lot of stuff in that exhaust plume that you don't want to breathe (or have others breathing). Think seriously about good ventilation from the start and you'll be a lot happier with lampworking in the long term.

Robert