I am trying to make a drying cabinet for hollowed out clay sculptures so that I can fire them without waiting FOREVER for them to be bone dry from leather hard state and still not crack by drying too fast. I have a metal locker that I want to use and wire shelves. Does anyone know how hot it has to get? I have heard that you need moisture. Does just a pan with a wick like plaster give enough moisture or do I need something else? Any air circulation needed or warranted? Can you dry something in an electric kiln instead?

You might find the information on the following sites to be helpful to you. I hope that you do.

clayart - thread 'a home made drying cabinet' (http://www.potters.org/subject77118.htm)

clayart - subject 'techniques - drying' (http://www.potters.org/category158.htm)

clayart - subject 'kilns & firing - misc' (http://www.potters.org/category061.htm)