For Serena Korda, a ceramicist and multimedia artist, balancing creativity and safety in her art studio was a constant challenge.
She knew that working with clay, glazes, and delicate gilding techniques in confined spaces posed significant health risks due to dust, silica, and toxic fumes, but needed some advice on how she could solve her particular issue.
Serena's discovery of Dust Arrest revolutionised her approach, allowing her to focus on her art without compromising her well-being.
A need for clean air in a compact space
Serena's artistic process involves working with manufactured clay, rich in silica - a substance known for its harmful effects on respiratory health. "Silica just sits in your lungs and does lots of nasty things," she explained.
The confined nature of her studios, one of which has no windows, made ventilation near-impossible. She needed an affordable, portable solution to manage both dust and fumes across her different workspaces without having to install a costly, bulky ventilation system.
After a thorough consultation with the team, Serena invested in the MAXVAC Dustblocker DB650 Air Scrubber which can safely capture silica, as well as the WFE260 Fume Extractor.
“When I phoned up, [everything] was really well explained. Often, when you’re looking at something that isn’t quite within your field, you can be patronised – and that did not happen. I spoke to another lady… She talked me through my processes to really understand what I needed and how the machines from Dust Arrest could help me.”
Dustblocker DB650: Breathing easy in the studio
The MAXVAC Dustblocker DB650 has quickly become an integral part of Serena's studio setup. Designed to remove 99.995% of airborne particles, it effectively filtered fine silica dust and other particles from her workspace.
“Working with clay, as much as you wipe down surfaces and you have good general practice in your studio, dust builds up. I can put the Dustblocker on, and I feel air is being filtered… I wasn’t so worried about the tiny particles.”
WFE260: Tackling toxic fumes with precision
When Serena introduced overglazes - 22-karat gold suspended in a potent solvent - into her work, the need for effective fume extraction became paramount. “As I was creating my pieces, I wanted to use something called overglaze, and it needs a lot of ventilation. I’ve never smelled anything like it before… I needed to find a solution as my studio isn’t very well ventilated.”
The WFE260 proved to be the perfect fit. Compact and lightweight, it easily adapted to her studio environment. “It’s a very compact machine that I can have in quite a small space in my studio… It gives you that security that it’s sucking out the fumes… It makes me feel more at ease doing detailed work.” While Serena continues to wear a mask for added protection, the fume extractor has significantly reduced her anxiety about exposure.
An investment in health and peace of mind
For Serena, the decision to invest in Dust Arrest’s products was as much about her peace of mind as it was about her health. “These machines – for what they offer – are not enormously expensive, but for someone on a budget, as a self-employed person, they were an investment. But it was an investment in my health, so I didn’t mind.”
Empowering artists everywhere
Since incorporating Dust Arrest’s products into her studio, Serena has seen a positive response from fellow artists. “I actually posted about the unit on Instagram when I first got it, as it’s quite a good-looking thing… and makes [my studio] look very professional. There was a lot of interest among my friendship group who are artists… It’s mobile, it’s quite lightweight, you just plug it in and it works! I’m really happy.”
Serena wholeheartedly recommends the Dustblocker and WFE260 to other artists. “I feel like [these machines] have so many applications that they can work for. Anyone who is a little bit worried about the materials they’re working with... I would definitely recommend!”
Serena Korda demonstrates that the right tools can empower artists to unleash their creativity and explore new techniques, all while enjoying the reassurance of complete peace of mind.
If you have an art studio and would like more information on how we can help improve your safety, please get in touch!
