knoelle2@yahoo.com on fri 29 dec 06
Hi all -
Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
quickly.
BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
electrical and applicance places and looked on the
internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Kathleen in Boston
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Jeanne on fri 29 dec 06
Kathleen,
Years ago, I imbedded a soil heating cable in plaster. It worked great -
I don't think the heating cable was a very expensive item - got it at
the local hardware store.
Caution, tho, maybe I left it plugged in way too long or something & one
of the wires completely burned - I made it such a long time ago (20
years!) that I don't remember if I removed the thermostat or not. I
Maybe if you put it on a timer?
Anyway, there was an article in Ceramics Monthly (from the 80's I think)
that outlines making one of these heated bats. I have a copy of the
article titled:
"The Conover Warm Clay Dryer". If you like, I can try to scan it and
send to you.
Jeanne in Stormy Sitka
knoelle2@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi all -
> Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
> his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
> and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
> mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
> it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
> clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
> quickly.
>
> BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
> heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
> but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
> electrical and applicance places and looked on the
> internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
> soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
> sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
>
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks,
> Kathleen in Boston
>
>
>
Marcia Selsor on fri 29 dec 06
On Dec 29, 2006, at 9:13 AM, knoelle2@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi all -
> Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
> his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
> and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
> mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
> it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
> clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
> quickly.
>
> BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
> heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
> but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
> electrical and applicance places and looked on the
> internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
> soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
> sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
>
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks,
> Kathleen in Boston
>
This sounds strange because heating plaster even too close to a hot
kiln can cause the plaster to break down. I think you may be better
off using a different method of recycling.
I have used 1.5 " thick plaster bats 2' x 3' for making paper clay. I
keep the plaster on sticks to let air circulate.
I have also used clay flower pots with a piece of paper over the hole
to contain the slip.
dannon uses old jeans with the legs tied and hangs them on a line.
There are many suggections in the archives for recycling.
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
Robert Edney on fri 29 dec 06
I'd keep it simple. Wet-proof heating pads are mass produced and cheap. Moreover, they are adjustable and come in all sort of sizes. There are heating pads made for people (at your local drugstore), heating pads made for puppies and even heated mouse pads. They come in a variety of sizes and are cheap. I would not actually embed them in plaster (although it might work). I'd pour some plaster slabs slightly larger than the pad and frame the pad in some skinny wood just slightly thicker than the pad itself, then lay the slab on top. That way the frame is taking the weight, not the pad. Leave a gap in the frame for the power cable and thermostat/control to lie outside. If your doing something large put some rebar in the slab as you pour it. By the way, setting a pot thrown on a plaster bat gently on top of a wet proof heating pad from the drugstore is a good way to carefully accelerate drying.
Robert, where even in California drying as slowed to a crawl.
Fredrick Paget on fri 29 dec 06
>Hi all -
>Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
>his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
>and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
>mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
>it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
>clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
>quickly.
>
>BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
>heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
>but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
>electrical and applicance places and looked on the
>internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
>soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
>sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
>
>Any thoughts?
>Thanks,
Kathleen in Boston
The idea is good and has been tried. I made one out of a soil heating
device some years ago. I think it is kicking around here in the junk
somewhere.
The principal is good but you must not heat the plaster too much. I
have references from USGypsum that say to limit the temperature to
120 degrees F. (49 Celcius) or else you wreck the plaster.
That lets out immersion heaters as they are very hot and concentrate
the heat in one spot. Those pipe wrapping heat cables might work but
their thermostats are at the wrong end of the temperature range since
they are set to go on at freezing, You want them to go off at 120F. A
fairly thick - say 1/16 inch - aluminum plate as a heat spreader is
good design. Imbed it in the plaster. Can be done but not off the
shelf.
Fred
--
Twin Dragon Studio
Mill Valley, CA, USA
Patrick Cross on fri 29 dec 06
When you say 'bats' I think of a gob of discs with small quantities of clay
on them spread all over your studio...nightmare. Why not just make one big
plaster drying/wedging table say 2 1/2' X 4'?
And just a thought about the heating option...instead of electric elements,
I wonder if radiant floor heating tubes wouldn't be better. You know
running through the plaster slab and plumbed into your hot water
supply...and with a nice gate or ball valve to shut it off when not needed.
Aside from drying clay you might be able to heat your studio in the
winter with this big warm slab of plaster...or maybe just make a smaller
task area more comfortable like if it were positioned near your wheel or
wherever your main method of work occurs.
Patrick Cross (cone10soda)
On 12/29/06, knoelle2@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> Hi all -
> Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
> his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
> and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
> mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
> it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
> clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
> quickly.
>
> BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
> heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
> but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
> electrical and applicance places and looked on the
> internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
> soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
> sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
>
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks,
> Kathleen in Boston
>
> __________________________________________________
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>
Kris Bliss on fri 29 dec 06
hi , i learned this from Al Tennant...
we made a wooden form for the plaster,
drilling holes at either end for metal
tubes to fit thru.. i put string thru before
fitting the tubes into the holes, oh the
holes/tubes are halfway up the thickness
of the plaster.. then pour plaster..
ok heres the heat part you get those
heaters designed to thaw / keep warm
pipes.. attach to string pull thru.. plug in
. they have thermostat .. instead of putting
on the outside of the pipe we are putting
on the inside..
this method works great ..
i used in a slab about 3 inches thick
and a coupla feet square..
in the new studio the plaster is 3 feet
wide and 8 feet long..
good luck ..
bliss in alaska
John Rodgers on fri 29 dec 06
Warm moving air will dry plaster bats rapidly. A heat source and a fan
will get'ter done. I use the method all the time
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
knoelle2@yahoo.com wrote:
> Hi all -
> Years ago, someone I knew imbedded heating elements in
> his plaster bats. You plugged in the heating element,
> and the plaster bat dried quickly. This idea was
> mentioned recently on the forum and I'd like to try
> it, since I need to recycle hundreds of pounds of
> clay, and it would be handy to dry out the bats
> quickly.
>
> BUT - what does one use for the heating element? Water
> heater immersion elements look like the right thing,
> but you can't plug them into an outlet. I've called
> electrical and applicance places and looked on the
> internet and the only possible thing I've found is a
> soil heating cable. Kind of pricey, too, and I'm not
> sure if you're supposed to immerse it, either.
>
> Any thoughts?
> Thanks,
> Kathleen in Boston
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
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