At the beginnings of Schaedings, I made the realization that I was going to need a dust-free zone. My space and budget were limited, so I decided to build my own Drying House. When I say Drying House, I mean a designated, sealed area where dust cannot enter.
I knew there had to be a way for me to allow my varnished pieces to dry without being moved or touched. I also didn’t want to have to stop working on another piece if there was one that needed to dry from the varnish or staining process.
Therefore, the Drying House was created!
Items for my Budget Drying House
- 1/2″ PVC Pipe
- PVC Fittings
- 16′ x 20′ tarp
- Copper Wire
- Gorilla Tape
- Velcro
- Rubber Mallet
- Hacksaw
- Clamps
- Sharpie Marker
- Tape Measure
The dimensions of my drying house are 50″ x 39.5″ x 26″.
Lifeline to the Rescue!
My Lifeline (if you read my post about creating the Jewelry Bunny Frame, you know I’m talking about my Dad) visited my shop to drop off some prime slabs of Russian Olive wood. Since he was here, I asked him to assist me with the design and building of my Drying House.
As always, he didn’t let me down! We headed to the closest hardware store, a Menards, and I priced out PVC pipe and fittings. It came to about $31. Since everything I could find pointed to $80 or more for a pre-done drying rack, I made the choice to do it.
Now or Never – Building the Drying House
We measured and talked through a design on the back of a paper bag inside the hardware store. Honestly, when you’re starting a business, you have to play it safe. If you can take extra time to save yourself hundreds of dollars, you should take that time. Always know that in a few years, you could purchase the item(s) of your dreams when your cash flow isn’t quite so minuscule.
All that said, Lifeline and I (with my Inspiration’s ((my Mom!!)) assistance) hauled my pipe, fittings and tools (I put my hacksaw in storage so I had to buy a new one) to my shop!
We measured, marked, measured again and began cutting up the pipe.
Even the Best Laid Plans…
Alas, even the most well thought out plans need more materials sometimes! We were about 10 feet short of PVC pipe! I completely spaced wanting some bracers on the bottom shelf of the Drying House so that I could utilize that space. If I were to lay an edge-to-edge varnished piece on the bottom without space between the tabletop and the surface of the piece, I would end up with marks that had spread from the weight.
I hope that made sense!
Nevertheless, my Inspiration and I went back to the hardware store while my Lifeline stayed and kept cutting the rest of the PVC pipe. We picked up two more pipes and a handful of fittings, getting back just in time for a mini snack break!
Drying House Creation – Strength in Numbers
After finishing up on the cutting, we attached all the fittings and joints to their proper lengths of pipe. My Lifeline saved the day again by suggesting something I wouldn’t have thought of.
Using my trusty rubber mallet, we braced the frame on the floor and tapped each fitting so that the pipes were fully seated in the joints, creating a perfectly uniform Drying House!
The next part was up to me!
Finishing Touches!
I didn’t think ahead enough to time lapse the cutting and building of the Drying House frame, but I did remember to record attaching the cover!
Before wrapping that up though, I want to talk about everything that went into the sealed cover.
Remember, I’m working on a budget. With that said, I went about $15 over my initial Drying House budget. It was worth it though. Let me explain.
I needed to pick up a medium-heavy duty tarp that was at least 16×10, some copper wire, super gorilla tape and some Velcro. Between two stores, I found a medium duty 16×20 tarp, 2 rolls of adhesive Velcro, gorilla tape and copper wire.
Adding More Bracers Inside the Drying House
Before attaching the tarp, I wanted to lay out some wire that I could adjust on the inside of the Drying House. Sometimes I work with small rounds and I wanted to have a space that could acquire them without having to pay more money for more pipe braces. So, I went with some copper wire.
I know most people would have went with good ol’ duct tape, but I wanted a super seal. Research said that Gorilla Tape adhered and sealed smooth and uneven surfaces, so I decided to go with the brand Gorilla Glue. I love how it worked too. It taped up like a dream and hasn’t budged since. 5-glowing stars for Gorilla Tape!!!
My biggest worry was what to use to seal the “door” of my Drying House. Buttons would leave too much air and ties wouldn’t keep it tight enough.
Velcro was both my first and last resort. It’s expensive when needed in bulk and if dirt gets trapped in the fabric, every time I open the door it would re aerate – giving me a textured varnish when I want silky smooth.
Alas, Velcro was my only option and so I went for it. I have been pleasantly surprised at how well it’s kept clean. Granted, I do blow it off every few weeks, just to keep on top of it!
More Measuring, Marking, Measuring and Cutting!
After I got the proper materials gathered, I asked The Consultant to help me get it together.
I think I tried for about 10 minutes to do it myself, but if you watch the time lapse, you’ll realize that it was a heck of a lot easier with another set of hands. The Drying House frame was sliding all over the place and I needed the tarp to be a tight as possible!
Together, we got it covered and taped and it’s been a dream come true!
I wanted a smaller version of a drying rack which is why I built it to sit on a table. I couldn’t be more happy with how it turned out and I would suggest building one to anyone who needs a dust-free space for drying art pieces.
Total Cost of the Drying House
My Drying House came to cost me about $61 total. That includes all the materials I bought. If you want to include the cost of the hacksaw I had to replace, $71! All-in-all, I would say that’s a lot better than throwing a couple hundred dollars or more into a drying rack. Especially if you cannot afford $150+ during your first year or so of business.
Especially in my own case. I don’t plan on this being my shop for more than a year or two. For me to invest in something so expensive is hard to justify in my current predicament.
When I upgrade and DO buy a legitimate – large – walk-in drying rack, I’ll be sure to let you know! But for now, I couldn’t be happier with my little Drying House.
If you decide to make one of your own, let me know what your ideas were! Improvement can always be made!
Remember to check out my shop for my wood art creations! 🌲
We would appreciate your support if you would follow us on our social media channels and subscribe on YouTube! You can see more time lapse videos like “Stay Grounded – Keep Growing” and other content related to Schaedings art!
Like on Facebook​!
Follow on Twitter​!
Follow on Instagram!
Subscribe on YouTube!
