Cindy on sat 4 apr 98
Not long ago, there was a request for information regarding drying of clay,
but I don't have the e-mail address of the man who wanted it. Anyway, here
is something I just came across. It's long, so delete at will. :)
This comes from "Building Pottery Equipment" by Roger Harvey and Sylvia and
John Kolb, Watson-Guptill Publications, 1975, ISBN #0-8230-0540-2. I would
imagine it is out of print, but might be available through inter-library
loan if your library doesn't carry it.
As explained earlier, the large bench-type plaster bat widely used for
drying clay is not recommended by the authors. Instead, you are urged to
make the clay-drying boxes described below. They require substantially less
time and are less expensive to build than a plaster bat. Each box, as
specified below, will hold from 75 to 100 pounds, or about as much as one
or two people can carry. Four of these boxes fit into a storage rack which
can be constructed from 2 x 4's.
Tools:
Hammer
wood-cutting saw
Drill with masonry bit and screw driver, if you have a concrete floor.
Staple gun
Materials for Four Boxes
Pieces of 2x4 lumber:
Eight 28" lengths
Eight 19" lengths
Pieces of 1 x 2 lumber:
Eight 28" lengths
Eight 19" lengths
Nails:
1/2 lb. 16D nails
1/2 lb. 6D nails
Four 20 1/2" x 28" pieces of aluminum window screening.
Staples at least 5/16" long for staple gun
Four 20 1/2 x 28" pieces of galvanized hardware cloth. (1 x 1 mesh)
Elictrical staples, of the type used to fasten electrical cable to a
structural framework, at least 1" long.
Materials for Drying Rack
Pieces of 2x4 lumber:
Four lengths to reach from floor to ceiling.
Eleven 23" lengths
One-half lb 8D nails
Four shields with 2 1/2" screws to fit, if you are installing the rack on a
concrete floor.
Assembling the Clay Boxes
Nail the 2x4s together with 16D nails to form 4 boxes (frames). Stretch one
piece of window screen over each box and affix with the staple gun. Stretch
one piece of hardware cloth over each box, directly over the window
screening. Affix with the electrical staples. The function of the hardware
cloth is to support the weight of the clay. The aluminum screening keeps
the hardware cloth from cutting into the clay. Nail the 1x4s directly over
the hardware cloth to form smooth surfaces on the bottom of the boxes so
they will slide easily into the racks.
Assembling the Drying Rack
Build a frame 23" x 23" x (height of your ceiling) using the long 2x4s.
Nail the top ends of the vertical 2x4s to the ceiling joists. If you have a
wood floor, nail the bottom 2x4s directly to the floor. For a concrete
floor, drill holes in the floor to accept plastic shields and screw the
bottom 2x4s into the shields. Use eight of the 23" 2x4s as shelf supports.
The remaining 23" lengths are for use as frame supports.
Naturally, this would be easier if you could see the drawings, but it's
pretty simple in any case. Hope this is of help. :)
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels
Custer, SD
USA http://blackhills-info.com/a/cindys/menu.htm
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