nancysmith Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 I'm wanting to make a few damp boxes. My question is can I use plaster of Paris??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 I'm a little fuzzy on the purpose of a damp box. Is the intention simply to hold the moisture in the clay at it's current level or to increase the moisture content? Is the idea to hold or increase the moisture indefinite? Come back to a piece after a 2 week vacation and find it just like you left? Expectations, please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liambesaw Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 Yes, plaster of Paris will work for a damp box, you can find at any hardware store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackthorn Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 53 minutes ago, CactusPots said: I'm a little fuzzy on the purpose of a damp box. Is the intention simply to hold the moisture in the clay at it's current level or to increase the moisture content? Is the idea to hold or increase the moisture indefinite? Come back to a piece after a 2 week vacation and find it just like you left? Expectations, please. I've not made one myself just yet but apparently, yes, indefinite moisture maintenance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnnyK Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 54 minutes ago, CactusPots said: I'm a little fuzzy on the purpose of a damp box. Is the intention simply to hold the moisture in the clay at it's current level or to increase the moisture content? Is the idea to hold or increase the moisture indefinite? Come back to a piece after a 2 week vacation and find it just like you left? Expectations, please. Yes to both questions...in the short term It will maintain the moisture level of the pieces you put in it. In the long term it can actually increase the level of moisture in your pieces depending on the amount of water you saturate the plaster with. I am currently running an experiment on a couple of yunomi that I put in my damp box back in 2013. While the pieces are currently leather hard, they are showing signs of deterioration, that is, they are becoming a little brittle around the rims but are thoroughly moist. I put about a cup of water in it about every 3 months. JohnnyK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancysmith Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 11 hours ago, liambesaw said: Yes, plaster of Paris will work for a damp box, you can find at any hardware store Thank you! I have heard about both pottery plaster and plaster of Paris hoping plaster of Paris would be great to use because it's easier to purchase and cheaper!!!! Stay safe everyone!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancysmith Posted April 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 So another question on plaster of Paris, can I also use it to make bowl or plate molds safely to put slab clay on/in??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 you can use it for anything you mentioned. pottery plaster is simply stronger so your mold may not last as long as one made of pottery plaster. why do you include "safely", do you think it is toxic or something??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CactusPots Posted April 10, 2020 Report Share Posted April 10, 2020 My problem with everything made from plaster or hydrocal is storing all the molds etc. That stuff adds up fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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