HEAT in the studio

[Glass*Cat]

:rolleyes: I work mainly with fused glass but I would like to get a torch for beadmaking. I've used a hothead but it has its limits so I'm looking to upgrade. My question is this: When using the hothead I had significant heat sort of localize in my stairway from my basement studio to the first level of my house. Now with a larger torch I can't even imagine how warm it's going to get in my studio and the stairway. How do you disperse the heat when spending hours at the torch?
:cat:

[Dale_M]

A concentration of heat tells me that you do not have adequate ventilation!... A hood with a fan or some other way to draw the heat and FUMES away from you and VENT them OUTSIDE is a must!..

Dale

[b2beads]

Hi Laura! Welcome to WC! Good to see you here!

IMO, and depending on which larger torch you get, a torch like a minor doesn't heat up the room much more than the hothead. The Hothead's flame is bushy and a lot of heat disperses. On most larger torches you are using a much narrower, targeted flame. You will occassionally use a bushy flame, but not for extended periods.

I've found it's the kiln that really heats up my work area (and I have a similar problem with heat in a stairwell. But my ventilation is focused on my torch, and works fine for that. The kiln is off to the side and the ambient heat rises.)

Anyway, just my opinion. When it's really hot out and I want to torch, I usually batch anneal and don't go for anything really large, so the kiln doesn't have to be on and it stays reasonable in there.

B2

[rightbrainbeads]

hi laura!

welcome! i love your fused glass pieces! :clap: :D

i agree with what beth (b2) and dale have said... i don't find that the torch heats up my space, as the heat goes up the vent duct. i've attached a pic of my ventilation system that vents to the outside (val cox-- do not look at this picture of my messy workspace! :evil: )-- it was inexpensive and it's *very* effective... feel free to pm me if you have any questions!

lynne (whose messy workspace is covered when she's not using it so that the enamel, etc. isn't exposed :cat: )


http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/02-Aug-2002/venthood.jpg

[anasazistudios]

Good ventilation is key! I have my air conditioner cranked but have to have a window open for fresh air. It has been very hot here and with the kiln on and torch going, it still get pretty hot in my studio. I have my ventilation system on and a fan on high right behind me and that seems to help.

Elizabeth

[mistymade]

Hi Laura,
Welcome to wetcanvas! I looked at your website and I love your fused pieces! Wow!!!
Misty:)

[b2beads]

I love Laura's work, too. She made a custom piece for me of a cat that our shelter uses as its logo and I gave one to each board member for a Christmas present. Unfortunately, I had to give them all away, or I'd post a picture. They turned out very nice.

B2

[ValorieCox]

Laura, Welcome! I'll look forward to checking out your web site after I stroll around WC a bit.

Lynne, oh no! I looked at your studio photo before I realized I was banished! I didn't see much, really!

Val:cat: