Any one built a dry box?

[modelmax]

Hi gang.

Was wandering if anyone has built a "dry box" (I believe this is what it's called) to dry your models after painting?

I live in a high humidity area and I'm considering building one, and would appreciate some ideas.

If you can, please share pictures.

thanks,

Ernie A.

[balls47]

I live in west central Ohio. Our humidity changes often due to the great lakes and Canada. We have a saying about the weather in the Buckeye State: "If you don't like the weather in Ohio, wait 10 minutes!" I do my modeling in our basement, because that's where the humidity and temperature stay pretty much the same and are easiest to control. I have found out through my experience and the experience of others here on ARC and other forums that temperature and humidity are the two most important factors when it comes to modeling, specifically painting and drying. A close third would be to cover the wet model to protect it from debris in the air that could dry and become part of the model. Right after any coat of paint, clear, etc., I put the model in a plastic container and cover it. I also add to the plastic container with the model several of those moisture "soaker-upper thingies" that come in bottles of aspirin, or anything else that needs to be in a low humidity environment. I am assuming that you want something like a hot box in which the temperature and humidity can be controlled. I'm just telling you what works for me here in the Buckeye State. If you have a basement, you can control your modeling environment much easier. If you don't have a basement, you may need to fix up a room(if possible) so you can control the environment. In other words, you may need to insulate the walls of that room, then add an air conditioner and a dehumidifier. Your wallet may have a say in how far you can take this project. Good Luck!!!

[Sebastian Haff]

I live in Georgia, and in the summer the humidity is awful. I have used my oven for drying models for years. Works great for me. Besides good temp and low humidity there's very little dust motes etc floating around. After painting or varnishing I put the model in a shallow Tupperware container, pop it in the oven and shut the door. Just don't forget it's in there and have your wife bake it.

[TheRealMrEd]

I also live in Georgia, and am lucky enough to have a sink in my modeling room. Next to the sink is a 30qt dehumidifier that drain into the sink, or into a big container if desired. Before this I had fits with water in the air line and had to install a water trap. So problems since. You can get small room dehumidifiers (sometimes used} at flea markets and thrift stores. Or, a properly air-conditioned room will also be low humidity. (My room is poorly air conditioned, in a basement, and gets pretty humid.)

Never used a dry box, but I built a sealed model paint booth in which my model dry dust-free.

One advantage of the dehumidifier is that when your hot water lets go, the dehumidifier will suck up all the water from the soaked carpet, by dehydration! (Ask me how I know...)

TheRealMrEd...

[Joel_W]

I use a drying box which is a large plastic storage container to keep dust off the model surface while it's drying. Since our home has central air, and I have one of the smaller bedrooms as my model/computer room, humidity/temp isn't an issue. I live on Long Island, New York and winter temps can get into the single digits. Heating costs skyrocket, so we keep the house at a constant 68 degrees. Drying times do increase somewhat, and there is a need for a humidifier as well as he air is too dry.

Joel

[Bob Beary]

I would get a clear plastic (so you can see where the model sits in it) storage box of what ever size you need.

Tip it upside down and block it up off the table so air can circulate. Cut a hole in the front or end and put a lamp near it to provide some heat for drying. Experiment with distance and bulb size. Bore a few holes on the top to let the warm air escape. I think the natural flow of air will be OK but you could also place a small fan near it.

Mock it up with a cardboard box. Google "DYI drying cabinet for painted plastic models" or the like. There's info out there.

Bob

[Rex]

here's a thread on FSM that talks about Don Stauffer's

he has a photo down in the thread a ways

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/163559.aspx

[Adam Baker]

I use a food dehydrator for drying paint, works great. A couple time's I've had to dry things that were too large to fit in it, so I cut a hole in a cardboard box large enough for the lift from the dehydrator, and did it that way.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Adam Baker