John Rodgers on mon 27 sep 10
I have in my work used drying cabinets a lot.
There are three elements to getting good rapid drying without cracking.
(1) heat - the temperature needs to be 80 + degrees F (2) Circulating
air - fans or other means are needed to move the air around to pick up
and carry moisture away from the clay, (3) Dehumidification of the
moving air.
When these three elements are combined, you can dry bowls and plates
bone dry in 6 to 8 hours.
When working in a ceramic factory out west, we used cabinets with holes
in the floor and sides to aid in contolling drying. Given the climate
was arid, drying wasn't really a problems as much slowing the drying so
cracking didn't occur. Thus the holes - which in turn had plastic
sheeting draped over them to help regulate.
When in Alaska, it was cool, and that slowed drying, but by heating up
the drying room, and turningon multiple fans to circulate air - drying
was enhanced. However - with no dehumidification - the moisture would
soon enough accumulate as frost on the ceiling above the plastic coated
ceiling insulation. With the inside at 80 degrees, and the outside at 0F
to minus 30F - the forming frost was no problem - until a Chinook wind
and the temp would rise to above freezing - then the frost would melt
and it would rain in the building. Interesting times.
Finally - in 2006 I had a really huge production project - 800 chalices
and plates to make - Temp in the 90's and humidity in the same range.
Couldn't dry squat! I rented a steel shipping container and sat it in
the driveway in the boiling summer heat. I put in multiple fans and
one honking big dehumidifier - not air conditioner - didn't want cool
air, wanted warm air - used a dehumidfier - turned it all on and the
plates and chalices began to dry rapidly - very very few cracks. There
was a steady stream of water pouring from the dehumidfier hose. It
really worked well.
Today, in my small shop, I have a bakers rack from SAMS with a zippered
jacket over it. In the bottom on the floor sits a small 1500 watt heater
with fan, aimed up through the rack. At the very top of the rack is a
hole through the jacket. The hole is covered to varying degrees to
regulate airflow - much like the damper in a gas kiln chimney. I put my
post on the shelves in the rack, zip it up, turn on the heater/fan below
and let her rip. And does she ever. It works very well. In this case, I
DO NOT have a dehumidifier in with the clay, but in this case it isn't
necessary.I have a dehumidifier running in the room, so the job gets done.
Regards,
John
--
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
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