Show me your dehydrators...

[LVZ2881]

I finally got one for my BDay yesterday. A Nesco Snackmaster.

What I need to see is how everyone has modified the food trays to fit bodys, parts etc...

also, how long after painting should I wait before setting the body on the racks?

Do i set the body directly on the rack?

finally, what temperature is best?

Edited March 2, 2009 by LVZ2881

[crispy]

I have a Nesco American Harvest dehydrator:

I just cut the inner part out of the rings with exception to the bottom one:

I also bought an extra box of trays so I could go much higher.

As for temperature I leave mine at about 105 on the knob. Of course using a thermometer inside to actually see where it is at would help you determine how warm it gets in there. OF course the temp changes a little bit depending on how many rings I have on as well.

I usually have the dehydrator running just before I start painting the model. This way it warms up and once I have finished painting I usually go ahead and set it inside. Depending on the paint I use determines the amount of time I leave it in. No worries though as leaving it in a long time shouldn't hurt it if you have the right temp set.

Testors: about one full day/overnight

Tamiya: about 4-8 hours give or take

Automotive paint: about a few hours

Of course this is how I do it and have had no problem. Your results may vary

Chris

[jbwelda]

i did pretty much the same. just bought a cheap one at target, cut away the inner trays to give some clearance, and put on the lowest temp to begin with. dehydrators dont just work by heat, they work by sucking out humidity. one time i *did* warp a body but it was a long and stressed rectangle sort of body (land rover station wagon) but thats been about it after 10 years or so of usage.

really helps on the testors enamels, i dont use it for tamiya paint nor really any quicker drying laquers. of course though i live in california where its not humid to begin with, so where it is you might want to use it for them too. but the dehydrator is a must for enamels especially if you want to polish the paint after dry.

typically i use it most for drying small parts ive brush painted with model master enamel bottle paint. works great but i run out of tweezers etc to hold parts!

[Terry Sumner]

That's the exact same one I have and you've set it up the same way I did. My only suggestion is to tape all the pieces together so they don't come apart on you.

Terry

[MikeMc]

get a thermometer for it some run at 120 degrees, use a dimmer switch (rheostat) wire it in line to set your temp to 105...

I put my paint rack and all inside!