[Jewelry making - Article 00564] - Re: [Orchid] Dust and static electricity explosions

[Richard Davies]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========

Laverne,

    The key to dust explosions is that the dust is combustible to some
    degree. This hazard is well known in coal mines, also grain
    elevators and flour mills. (For example, grain scoops are made of
    plastic rather than metal to reduce the likelihood of sparks that
    might ignite dust stirred up while handling bulk grain.) 

    Since polishing dust is not combustible, hazards likely to be
    present in a metalsmith's studio will probably be of some nature
    other than explosive dusts. Quite a few of these have already been
    discussed at length in this forum. Examples hat come to mind are fuel
    gases and oxygen used in torches, use of flashback arrestors and
    checkvalves, use of dust collectors, ventilation systems and hoods to
    minimize exposure to toxic fumes emitetd during soldering operations
    or pickling, safety precautions for handling chemicals, safety around
    polishng machinery, to name a few. You might check Orchid archives
    for these threads, many of which are quite thorough in their
    treatment of their respective subjects. 

Dick Davies
____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________