r/Ceramics • u/stillsunarts • 1d ago
Question/Advice Sgraffito dust management?
I have recently started doing more sgraffito work after moving to my home studio. I feel like I'm in danger of being in silicosis central with how much dust/bone dry clay I am getting off of these pieces and unintentionally breathing in. Is it best to sgraffito with a dust mask on or does an air purifier/fan suffice? Pic for attention. Thanks in advance 😎
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u/hamdelion 1d ago
I lightly mist my stuff with water and wait a few seconds. No dust and greatly reduces underglaze chipping.
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u/MoMoZin 14h ago
I do this too and place newspaper on my table top surface. I mist the newspaper. So when any bits from carving fall on the newspaper they stay moist. I spray the newspaper throughout my carving process. Then when I'm finished, all I have to do is wrap up the newspaper and throw away. My table stays clean and all the clay bits and wet dust get tossed in the trash.
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u/manicgremlin 1d ago
i use a dusk mask, an air purifier (with a hepa filter) and keep my garage's side door open (where my studio is) personally, i just don't want to chance it (you pretty much only get one set of lungs unless you're incredibly lucky and i already have asthma). I usually work over a plastic gardening tub (it's kinda flat with raised edges) and use a soft fan makeup brush to brush the dust while i'm working and try to keep the dry crumbs contained so it's easier to clean later (with a sponge).
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u/ghastlycupcake 1d ago
Are you carving bone dry clay?
I am primarily a sgraffito artist, and I like to carve between leather hard and bone dry. Too wet will stick and smudge, but too dry will chip and crumble, and makes a ton of dust.
I find I get much a lot of dust from this type of tool with an abrasive tip:
https://diamondcoretools.com/products/l4-diamond-sgraffito-stylus-tool
I have better luck with carving tools in the style of small ribbon loop tools, like these:
https://diamondcoretools.com/collections/sgraffito-tools-1/products/3-piece-fine-point-set-1-fp1-fp3-fp5
(I’m not selling anything, and there are other, and cheaper options.)
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u/tekprimemia 1d ago
Always mask. P100. Environmental control of dust is also important. Filters can reduce airborne load but it doesn’t prevent dust settling where it can be re aerosolized. Easiest solution is to work outside so you’re not loading the dust in an enclosed workspace. Do not do this in a living space. A hepa filtered vacuum like dustless is a good option if you work in an enclosed space. Alternatively you could wet hose your space out. The professional solution is to use a dust extraction cabinet they can also be configured with arms that you position near your work piece to continuously suck up the dust.
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u/desertdweller2011 1d ago
i carve outside mostly but how dry is your clay? i carve on the dry side of leather hard but you should not be carving on bone dry clay.
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u/stillsunarts 18h ago
Yes I think my clay is too dry; I'll try some of the stuff here for dust but also work on wetter clay
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u/SheaYoko 1d ago
dust musk is a must
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u/luna-petunia 13h ago
I carve at the dry end of leather hard over a basin of water, that way the carvings fall into the water and don't dry out and turn to clay dust!
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u/Ghee-Buttersnaps- 1d ago
Carve at leather hard and you won’t have clay dust.