June 29, 2001, Newsletter Issue #44: Allow your pieces to dry slowly.

Tip of the Week

Allow your pieces to dry slowly.

For good results, whether you are hand building or throwing
a pot on the wheel, you need a few guidelines for drying
your pieces. You need to use a board or a bat to store your
pieces on after they come off the wheel for drying before
trimming. Ideally you want to completely wrap the piece on
the bat in light plastic (dry cleaning bags are great because they are large and thin) and place them in a damp room where there is a lot of moisture so they will dry slowly and evenly. After a day or two in the damp room, your piece will be leather hard and ready to be trimmed. After your piece is trimmed or if you are hand building and will continue to work on your piece, put it back in the damp
room so it will dry out slowly over time. By allowing your
pieces to dry slowly you will prevent cracking that can occur from losing moisture too quickly. Not all cracking can be prevented for example if you have a fault or weakness, it will likely come out in the bisque or final firing, this cannot be avoided by drying slowly. Note: if you are drying tiles or a large flat piece such as a platter, you need to use something on top to weigh down the surface as the tendency is for the edges to curl up while drying.

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