Basement Studio

This is the main board for discussing general techniques, tools, and processes for fusing, slumping, and related kiln-forming activities.

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Ellen H
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Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 12:09 pm

Basement Studio

Post by Ellen H »

I am in the procesing of moving and wonder if there is any reason why you can't have your studio in the basement if you have a ventilation fan and concrete floors?
Tony Smith
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Post by Tony Smith »

Most people I know have their studios in the basement... unless you have a very understanding spouse, then you can take over the living room or kitchen. :wink:

Just make sure you test for radon and ventilate appropriately if you test positive.

Tony
The tightrope between being strange and being creative is too narrow to walk without occasionally landing on both sides..." Scott Berkun
Gabriel
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Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2003 4:36 pm
Location: Fort Wayne, IN

basement studios

Post by Gabriel »

The only major issue I have found is moving equipment in and out. It is a royal pain to move a crate of glass downstairs. I fear nothing more than holding a sheet of bullseye cranberry as I descend the stairs. I will find out next week how hard it is to get an oval kiln through a 30" doorway and a flight of stairs.

If you want a sink with adequate drainage you may be in trouble, unless you already have your area stubbed for a tub/toilet.

Natural lighting is something to consider, though easily remedied with full spectrum bulbs.
Nancy Juhasz
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Location: Ohio

Post by Nancy Juhasz »

Hi Ellen, I have my studio in the basement. What I did for ventilation was install an exhaust fan in the ceiling and have it vent to the outside. It works well. When it is on and my big kiln if firing the temperature is comfortable. I also do traditional stained glass and solder using this same fan for taking out the fumes. Works well. For lights I have fluorescent daylight that are 40 watts each. I have one fixture with 2 of these tubes over the kiln area and two over my 4'x6' work table. I do have to take all the glass down the stairs but it isn't much of a problem.
Nanc
twinkler2
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Post by twinkler2 »

Hi Ellen

My husband has been wanting to put my studio in the basement. It would be warmer for me, but there is NO natural light....or fresh air :(
I decided to freeze in the garage and moan about it.
and besides moving down there seemed to be too much to move.
Or maybe I just want to be difficult.....

Me Kim
Gail Bunt
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Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 7:35 pm
Location: Saskatoon, SK Canada

Post by Gail Bunt »

I am a total newbie, nervous about opening my big yap, but here goes--

I am in the process of setting up a warm glass studio in my basement. Air quality is a particular issue for me, as in the past when anything with fumes has been done there, the fumes have take weeks/months to dissipate. I couldn't find much on this site about ventilation, maybe didn't search well enough. So I did a lot of calling around to contractors, looking for one with knowledge of ventilation systems. Short of hiring an engineering firm, all I could find was one contractor who had an interest in ventilation and had done some reading.

For you and for the benefit of others in my boat who come along later, here's what this guy says:

- if your exhaust fan is just a bathroom or kitchen type, it may not exhaust much air. Check for the cfm (cubic feet of air per minute).

- an exhaust fan will only suck from a few inches beside/below it, unless it is extremely powerful or is attached to a small hood that is directly over the source of fumes. I.e. a ceiling-mounted fan will only suck what floats to the ceiling right around it. The rest of the fumes will go wherever the air in your basement normally drifts to.

- cfm going out must be balanced by cfm coming in, or the exhaust fan will suck the air out of your upstairs. Okay in a warm climate but on the cold prairies this could raise the heating bill a lot. If you get a fan with very high cfm (not likely unless you get something specialized) and you don't have a fresh air source in your furnace room, it could cause the chimney to back-draught monoxide.

So, according to my guy, bathroom/kitchen type exhaust fans by themselves don't have a lot of effect.

Because I am paranoid already about the air down there, I have opted for a pricey solution - an air-to-air heat exchanger (150 cfm fresh air), a small electric furnace to bring in and heat fresh air, and a welder's exhaust system--a long tube that can be moved around and that is attached to an in-line exhaust fan that can go up to 300 cfm. Am also getting the ventilation kit for my kiln.

The furnace for fresh air is necessary because our winters are severe. It hit -40 last week.

My suggestion would be to try lighting a candle, or heaven forfend a cigarette, and watch whether the smoke heads for the exhaust fan.

This is just what my heating guy says. He could be wrong.

Gail
Nancy Juhasz
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Location: Ohio

Post by Nancy Juhasz »

I posted earlier that I had an exhaust fan in the ceiling that goes outside in my basement. I think the brand was NuTone and it is a dual fan. Yes when I light a candle the smoke and fumes from the candle go up to the fan. You don't even smell the scented candle if you are not between the candle and the fan. I am very happy with it. Just thought I would let you all know the brand.
Nanc
Gale aka artistefem
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Post by Gale aka artistefem »

Ellen.........if the basement is the only place with enough room to spread out and can be a dedicated space for your glass working, then GO for it!

Full spectrum lights, ventilation are musts.

One question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate your sensitivity to your working environment?

About 15 years ago, I had a basement studio. Lots of storage room, the kiln kept it toasty, but the ceilings...... They were only 6.5 ft high and the windows (all 3 of them) were those tiny squinty things that sat up high at the top of the wall. No vistas to view.

During that time, the work I produced was small, cramped looking, tight - not my usual style. It was hard to even get myself down there to start on a project. Once I figured out that I was responding to the restrictions of my work quarters, I went out - found a large expansive high ceilinged space to work in, moved my studio and said "Never again!"

Working in a basement is bad news for me. I'm just too touchy-feely when it comes to my work space - haven't figured out whether being t-f is a good thang or not - LOL!
Alecia Helton
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Location: outside of Dallas TX

Post by Alecia Helton »

You need to look at industrial strength exhaust fans, not the ones normally found in houses. Mine draws more than 10 times what's usual for a kitchen or bathroom fan.

I'm not sure whether Home Depot carries these fans. You can see them on http://www.grainger.com.

Alecia
Alecia Helton
Wear Original Wonders!
Carrollton TX
jerry flanary
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Location: norfolk, va

Nature's radon detector

Post by jerry flanary »

A house with a healthy spider population has no radon problems.

Another good source for ventilation fans is http://www.McMaster-carr.com

Check for mold too.
j.

A lack of doubt doesn't lend certainty.
Marty
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Post by Marty »

As another basement dweller-

I had the foundation dug out so I could put double French doors in the basement wall and have a ramp for moving stuff in and out. Had to go down another 6 feet and reinforce the foundation but it was worth it.

If you have those high-up-basement windows (I forget the name), you can take one out and put your fan in there. My fan's (from Grainger) in another room in the basement so I don't hear the noise constantly.

Put mirrors on the walls- they'll increase the light and make the space seem larger. Even a band of 12" mirrors near the cieling will help.

Mix track lighting and fluorescents.
Tony Smith
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Post by Tony Smith »

Marty wrote:If you have those high-up-basement windows (I forget the name), you can take one out and put your fan in there. My fan's (from Grainger) in another room in the basement so I don't hear the noise constantly.
That's the way I have mine set up. I removed a pane of glass from half of the window frame and replaced it with a piece of exterior grade plywood with the fan mounted to the inside and the shutter mounted to the outside.

Tony
The tightrope between being strange and being creative is too narrow to walk without occasionally landing on both sides..." Scott Berkun
Bev Brandt
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Re: Nature's radon detector

Post by Bev Brandt »

jerry flanary wrote:A house with a healthy spider population has no radon problems.
The things you learn on warmglass.com. My basement looks like Cirith Ungol. Call me radon-free!

- Bev
Bev Brandt
Don Burt
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Post by Don Burt »

Bunt wrote:I am a total newbie, nervous about opening my big yap, but here goes--

Gail
Good info, Gail. Open your big yap more often. Thanks.
Don Burt
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Post by Don Burt »

Marty wrote: clip

Mix track lighting and fluorescents.
Why track lighting Marty?
Gabriel
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Location: Fort Wayne, IN

Re: track lights

Post by Gabriel »

Mixing flouresent and incandesent allows you to get as close to natural sunlight as possible.
Marty
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Post by Marty »

Don Burt wrote:
Marty wrote: clip

Mix track lighting and fluorescents.
Why track lighting Marty?
fluor for general lighting, halogen tracks for tasks (also cheap aluminium reflectors at the saw, wet belt sander, etc.).
cindy
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 3:27 pm

Post by cindy »

Hey there--

I'm another basement dweller with concerns about ventilation. When I looked at the Grainger and McMaster-Carr sites I was overwhelmed by the choices. Will those of you with high cfm fans share your model names/numbers?
Many, many thanks in advance--
Cindy Seiwert
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