sparklingmango Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 What is the best alternative to a drying cupboard? I am working with Egyptian Faience and I have to leave my piece in a warm area with lots of air for the efflorescence to happen. Any ideas what is best to do this in without having a drying cabinet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 To control drying, I just lay plastic bags over the top. If you want them to dry slower, wrap the bags tightly and seal them. If you want them to dry a bit quicker, have the bags a bit looser, and leave them partially open. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 I use 5 gallon buckets over individual pots and an inverted plastic storage container over smaller multiples on square bats. I also have a bakers cart with 12 shelves that I wrapped in plastic for slow drying slabs. The shelves are removable so I can store just about and thrown work in there. Fow large handbills pieces, I use a large garbage bag like Benzine mentioned. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 For a more permanent solution, an old upright freezer works pretty well. I have an old fridge I have used outside for many years. The big problem with one outside besides the rust was that the code inspector insisted on a pad lock on the large bottom door. Works pretty well, and the up top freezer holds work damp indefinitely if I remember to spray inside once a week. If I had heat in the shop, I would worry about stuff freezing in the outside freezer also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Waller Posted March 6, 2015 Report Share Posted March 6, 2015 You may know this, but I would be careful with covering your work during the drying period with effloresced Egyptian faience, which many potters call Egyptian paste. I cover my Egyptian faience pieces only while I'm working on them and even then not for long periods of time. Once I'm done working on a piece, I make sure to expose all the surfaces that I want to be glazed to the air to encourage drying and the "wicking process" that causes the sodium to migrate to the surface. This is what creates the glazed surface. Covering with plastic or anything else - especially loosely or partially covering - can cause the sodium to migrate to some areas but not others, resulting in an uneven glaze surface. As for an alternative to a drying cabinet - do you have access to a small electric space heater? I sometimes use a small, inexpensive (15-25 US dollars) space heater. It is somewhat wasteful energy-wise, but the dry heat works well for drying Egyptian faience. If that doesn't answer your question, let me know and I'll try again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted March 7, 2015 Report Share Posted March 7, 2015 If I understand the OP's question correctly, she wants her pieces to dry quickly, not slowly. Heat and moving air are your friends. A small fan and some work lights could do the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakukuku Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 A sunny window shelf works for me. In absence of a sunny day, I have a small space heater in the studio. i set work on a small plastic stool in front of it but you have to turn it. I also set stuff on top of a warm bisque kiln. I have wondered whether one could get a heat lamp like they have in restaurants to keep plated food warm while waiting for the server. rakuku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted March 8, 2015 Report Share Posted March 8, 2015 I have wondered whether one could get a heat lamp like they have in restaurants to keep plated food warm while waiting for the server. rakuku I've seen a couple studios where they have a drying cabinet with one or more heat lamps at the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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