An electric hand dryer is not an effective method for drying clay. While electric hand dryers are designed to blow warm or hot air to dry moisture from hands, they are not suitable for drying clay due to several reasons:
Insufficient heat: Electric hand dryers typically do not generate enough heat to effectively dry moist clay. Clay requires a much higher temperature and more prolonged exposure to heat to dry properly.
Inconsistent airflow: Hand dryers are designed to focus airflow on hands for a short duration. Clay needs uniform and consistent airflow from all sides to dry evenly without cracking or warping.
Time-consuming: Drying clay with a hand dryer would be an extremely slow and inefficient process. Clay drying usually requires slow and controlled drying methods to prevent uneven drying and cracking.
Potential mess: Using a hand dryer to dry clay could result in the clay particles being blown around, causing a messy and potentially hazardous environment.
To dry clay properly, it is recommended to use more traditional methods such as air-drying or oven-drying:
Air-drying: Place the clay object in a well-ventilated area with low humidity. Allow the clay to dry slowly over a period of several days or even weeks, depending on the size and thickness of the clay piece.
Oven-drying: For smaller clay pieces or projects, you can use a regular household oven to dry the clay. Place the clay object on a baking sheet and dry it at a low temperature (around 200-250°F or 90-120°C) for several hours until completely dry.
Always follow the specific guidelines provided by the clay manufacturer for drying and firing their products to ensure the best results and prevent any damage or cracking. Additionally, consider investing in a clay drying rack or using newspaper or cloth to support and protect the clay while it dries to avoid warping or deformation.