To crockpot or not to crockpot??

[Kisifer]

Hello again fellow figurerers.

I just recently built a crockpot to start using since i paint with oils. I wanted to ask the users of crockpot here the benefits and disadvantages of crockpot. I have heard that it's possible to leave a satin effect to oils when they get dry but i don't know if that's true.
Another question is, if i can put in the crockpot the figure while it's on the wooden base. I always cover the base with paper tape so i don't paint or dirt it.
Please share your knowledge. Any comments are highly appreciated.
Thanks a lot in advance.


Xenofon

 

[megroot]

Xenofon,

As you already know i paint in oils. But i do my oilpainting thanks to the
selfmade crockpot i enjoying painting with oils.
The colours dry real matted. And that's why the crockpot comes in. Further it give's the opportunity to paint again to the figure's in one day.
I can recommend it. i use a 100 W lightbulb
Marc

 

[Kisifer]

Thanks for the fast reply Marc. I know that you paint in oils and to be honest i was expecting your answer. I don't know the size of your crockpot but 100W lightbulb sounds to much to me. I was thinking to use a 40W one. I have also covered the whole inside with foil paper so the heat is transmitted better.

 

[megroot]

Xenofon,

Mine is made of 22mm wood covered with plastic. (here we gave it another name but i think you know what i mean).
The dimensions are 30 x 30 x 30 cm. I become a temperature of 60 degree celsius. After one night the figure is absolutely dry. And above all absolute matt finish.

Marc

 

[pkess]

I would advise against putting your wooden base in the crockpot. I always use a temporary balsa base until the painting is complete.
I also make my own wooden bases. The problem is that wood is not totally stable. It will continue to lose and or gain moisture through the years. Some woods, like Ebony are never very stable. When you put a finished base into the crockpot you are drying it out more. When you take it out it will absorb mositure from the humidity in the air. You will probably notice small cracks on the end grain.
I did a Samurai figure many years ago which I mounted on a turned Ebony base. The problem is the collector lives in Buffalo, NY. Every winter very wide cracks open in the ebony because the heat in his house dries out the moisture. Every summer the cracks close back up because of the moisture in the air.
Also, please don't be confused you are talking about building a light box. A crock pot is a commercial cooking device also known as a slow cooker. It is capable of generating a lot more heat then a 40 or 100 watt light bulb. I have a rheostat on my crockpot which keeps the temperature at a constant 160 degrees F. Hope this helps.

 

[Kisifer]

You are right pkess. But we are used to call them crockpots for some reason. My bases are made of oak mainly. I will give it a try and see what will happen.

Marc my crockpot is not that deep like yours.. it has like 15cm depth. The rest of dimensions are the same.

 

[megroot]

Oke, Xenofon,

Then the lightbulb must be lighter than 100 W.
I never put my figure's with the base in the lightbox.
Marc

 

[godfather]

I assumeyou use actual crockpots that are used for cooking?

 

[Kisifer]

Not really.. i made a light bulb box off wood

 

[thegoodsgt]

I've never felt the need to crockpot or bake my figures. The paint always seems to dry reasonably matt, and when it's not, I can drybrush/stiple on a light coat of Dullcote to bring down a slight sheen.

 

[PJ Deluhery]

I have used a crock pot for years - thanks to Phil K.

I would advise against using a wooden base because it may dry out, or it may give off gasses from the wood resin that can affect the oils. Use a temporary painting base.

Not all colors dry matte, so you may get a satin finish just by the nature of the color. If I want a satin or other finish I usually apply it after the piece is dry. Partially dried oils can appear satiny, but will will likely turn matte as they fully dry. If you do not remove the excess oil before you paint, you are likely to end up with a satin to glossy finish when the piece is fully dry. Unfortuantely, I don't have a clue as to how to control this so that you end up with the level of satin you want and not too much shine.

I set my pot to "low" and leave the top slightly ajar to avoid too much heat build up in the pot. This prevents melt down of the piece or the glue. Drying time is about 6 hours. Usually I set the whole thing on a timer, turn it on at night, and in the morning the figure is done.

DO NOT use the same pot for cooking that you use for figures. Oil paints have highly toxic components that can poison you. Also, it's a good idea to put the pot in another (unoccupied) part of the house so that you or others do not breathe in the fumes.

Also works well for drying Magic Sculpt or other epoxy resin sculpting media.

Good luck!