A damp box is a humid container in which to store in-progress claywork. You are creating a makeshift version of this every time you put a plastic bag over an incomplete piece. The advantange of a damp box is that you can do this without the hassle of the plastic bag, or the potential surface marring it can cause.
Be aware of Lime popping which can occur if chunks of plaster get into your clay.
Build a damp box
Material
- Plastic container
- Enough plaster to form a 1-3 inch ((Lesley 2019), (Yarnell n.d.)) layer on the bottom of your plastic container
Steps
Mix the plaster
Refer to the instructions provided by plaster provider.
Pour the plaster and wait for it to dry
Usage
Add some water to the plaster, then add your clay and close the lid to seal in the moisture.
Storage
Store with the lid off to avoid mold growth.
Bibliography
Armadillo Clay. n.d. “The Damp Box.” Armadillo Clay and Supplies. Accessed December 28, 2022. http://www.armadilloclay.com/2/post/2016/09/the-damp-box.html.
Lesley. 2019. “How to Make a Damp Box For Clay.” Pottery Tips by the Pottery Wheel. https://thepotterywheel.com/how-to-make-a-damp-box-for-clay/.
Yarnell, Meghan. n.d. “Make a Clay Damp Box for Less than \$20!” Make a Clay Damp Box for Less than \$20! Accessed December 28, 2022. https://meghcallie.blogspot.com/2016/04/make-clay-damp-box-for-less-than-20.html.