UV sunburn from kiln?

Kitty · Post by **Kitty** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 6:45 pm

i did a pot melt yesterday, and i looked at it twice when the kiln was at 1700F. i didn't get burned in the usual sense of the word, but ended up hours later (middle of the night) and today with a red area on the side of my neck, down to the clavicle, that feels like a sunburn. i was wondering if a blast of UV from the kiln could have done that? i can't imagine what else it could be. it's on the left side, which is the side that would have been exposed to UV coming out of the kiln. maybe i need to have a bigger shirt on ... kitty.

Tony Smith · Post by **Tony Smith** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:24 pm

There's no UV emitted from a hot kiln, but there's plenty of infrared... sounds like you got toasted in the toaster oven. Infrared is the stuff that heat burns are made of... next time, wear a welder's jacket with a high collar and a face shield... even a polycarbonate one will block the heat... at least until it melts, which takes a while. And don't forget to protect your eyes... infrared energy can cook your eyes and lead to cataracts... it's an accumualated damage.

Tony

Ron Coleman · Post by **Ron Coleman** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:32 pm

There isn't any UV to speak of from the kiln. What you got was a good dose of IR (infrared) which can burn skin too. It's probably just a very mild first degree burn.

Cover up any exposed skin. Cotton is best when around the kiln, unless you want to invest in one of those aluminum suits.

Ron

Kitty · Post by **Kitty** » Sun Jun 22, 2003 7:49 pm

Ron -- i had a cotton shirt on, but part of my neck was uncovered. i was pretty much behind the door, but my head is taller than the top of the kiln, so i guess some of the IR got me. i didn't notice anything either time i opened the kiln, but i guess you're right about what happened. knew you experts here would be able to answer the question. thanks. kitty.