Safety First

OK people safety is number one. I don't want anybody getting hurt while using craft knives saws or anything else, you may need to craft and/or practice some of the crafts featured in this blog. Here's a article that talks about some of the potential risks you take.

Some artists and craftspeople might assume that all arts materials are safe to work with, based on the simple fact that the materials are readily available. However, some of these materials can pose a hazard if you do not follow all of the safety instructions on the product label.

It is impossible to list all of the potential hazards associated with every arts and crafts material. However, the following examples highlight some things that could be harmful:

* If you draw or paint, you might inhale dust from dry pigments or fumes from the chemical solvents used to clean brushes. Spray paints can produce mists that are harmful when inhaled. Many of these products are also flammable.

* Some photo-processing solutions used in developers, fixers, stop baths and
intensifiers can irritate skin, be poisonous if ingested and may produce dangerous fumes.

* In jewelery-making and enameling, you could inhale dusts or fumes during soldering, pickling, casting or finishing.

* In stained glass work, you could inhale lead fumes when soldering glass pieces together or you could be exposed to lead when handling lead came or leaded solders. You could also inhale hazardous fumes when using acid fluxes during soldering, or do serious damage to your lungs by breathing in powdered glass when using an electric glass grinder.

* In woodworking, you could seriously damage your lungs by inhaling wood dust over and over again. Some of the solvents and adhesives used in stripping, gluing and finishing can also harm your health.

* Some materials that are safe when used on their own can produce hazardous fumes or materials when they are mixed with bleaches, acids, solvents, household cleaners or other substances.

Don't let this article scare you though, just remember Safety first.