After shaping, and before it's fired, Art Clay needs to be dried to evaporate the water in the binder. However, if you don't dry it completely, the water will turn to steam during firing and the sudden pressure increase may crack or shatter the clay. It's very unlikely, but it could explode: so, another reason to get used to wearing safety glasses.

After drying, Art Clay silver clay is dull-white and gold clay is dull-yellow. The clay now looks and feels like plaster, so it's strong enough for you to be able to refine the shape using a knife, scriber, file, drill, and abrasives. However, at this stage, thin pieces are brittle, so take care not to snap them.

The simplest, quickest, and most reliable way to dry Art Clay is in a kiln programmed from cool to 150°C, then held for at least 10 minutes. You don't have to watch it, so you can do something else whilst it dries.

Rest your piece on a kiln shelf or a ceramic fibre block: never on the unprotected floor of the firing chamber. Complex or fragile shapes can be supported on vermiculite chips.

Kiln shelves are quite heavy and retain their heat for a long time. Have somewhere nearby ready to put your shelf when you take it from the kiln: you could use a ceramic fibre block or a tray of vermiculite.

If you dry a second piece, let the kiln cool down first or the water in the binder will evaporate too quickly and the clay may crack or shatter.

You can dry Art Clay in your kitchen oven, starting from cool to 150°C, then held for at least 10 minutes. However, be careful as, at about 250°C, the binder starts to burn away and your piece will begin to shrink or change shape.

Rest your piece on a kiln shelf, a mesh, or a ceramic fibre block: never on a wire baking shelf that may have traces of fat. Complex or fragile shapes can be supported on vermiculite chips. Don't use your acrylic work sheet: it will buckle.

You can dry Art Clay using a hair drier or a hobby hot-air gun. However, this needs practice as it's difficult to guess the temperature and easy to underestimate the time.

Rest your piece on a kiln shelf, a mesh, or a ceramic fibre block: never on your unprotected kitchen top as the heat may discolour or lift the laminate. Don't use vermiculite as it will blow everywhere. Don't use your acrylic work sheet: it will buckle.

You can let Art Clay dry naturally for 24 hours in a warm place, such as an airing cupboard, or on a warm surface, such as a central-heating radiator.

Rest your piece on a kiln shelf, a mesh, or a ceramic fibre block: never directly on any hot surface. Complex or fragile shapes can be supported on vermiculite chips. Don't use your acrylic work sheet: it will buckle.