Food Dehydrator

Im thinking about buying one and i just wanted some feedback on whether or not its a good idea?
Can some one list the pros and cons of such a device?

Ive got one, and love it. It definitely helps. The biggest issue is size, but thats not really an issue much when building only cars.

What ever you decide to get, make sure its got some kind of temperature control. The first one I bought didnt have one, and it only ran at 150° F which is way too hot for modeling purposes.

The one I have now is a Nesco American Harvest dehydrator. Its got a temp control knob on the top ranging from 95°F to about 150°F.

http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/yhst-85270312810582_2054_25539673

Seems like they'd be great if you live in a humid climate and you're painting with enamels, since they dry so slowly. You'd get some dust protection, too.

But, regardless of climate, does a dehydrator really make a difference with lacquers?

I paint with lacquers and live in warm, arid California desert, so I don't think I'd get much benefit. The whole state is dehumidified.

(I assume that a dehumidifier is the same as a dehydrator, no?)

Ddms

For every 10 degrees above ambient temperature you cut drying time in half. Use that as a guide for how a dehydrator will work for your conditions. I couldn't live without one; I use it to dry paints of all kinds, warm paint cans, help decals to dry. Works great for lacquers, I can do stupidly fast paintjobs using lacquers and a dehydrator. Enamels dry more like lacquers if you have a dehydrator. You can shoot enamel, throw it in the dehydrator, and the next day be wetsanding and buffing. You can do that in as little as an hour with lacquers.

Definitely get one w/temperature control of some sort. You can cut the trays to make some into spacers for taller items.

I too have the Nesco branded one. I love it. Just like Bob and Ddms say, make sure you have a temperature control. It does work wonders on everything.
http://images30.fotki.com/v476/photos/9/95430/1213845/dehyd1-vi.jpg

http://images30.fotki.com/v476/photos/9/95430/1213845/dehyd2-vi.jpg

Chris

OK Thanks for the advice guys. Maybe one more question..what is the ideal drying temp and time?
1. Tamiya spray cans and paint
2. Testors enamel and metalizer cans and paints
I also occasionally use humbrol enamels but i assume they are like testors

There is no hard and fast temperature and time, it varies from subject to subject and your ambient conditions. Keep it below 110 and use the same temperature for everything. It's not like it's going to turn to dust when it's been in there longer than expected. While Tamiya TS paints can be dry and polished in as little as a couple hours (Testors lacquers are even faster), it's really best to wait overnight to make sure it's completely cured. Same for enamels, they really need a good 12+ hours to cure before working with them. Enamel may feel slightly "sticky" when it comes out of the dehydrator from the temperature, let it cool a bit and it's fine. The smell test also works; if you can smell the paint, it's still not cured. Sometimes paint isn't cured all the way through, but you can still polish it out if you are careful.

Acrylic flat paint, metalizers, alclad all dry remarkably fast. Sometimes they're able to be handled in minutes.

I have a Rohnco. It just has a high/low setting but works great. Funny story though. Rohnco has an adjustable vent at the top that controls temp. I use it on low with the vent all the way open if im keep something in it overnight. Well i had it in the kitchen drying a Silvia body and Sarah threw a loaf of bread on top of the vents. The next morning my Silvia was shrivelled up like a shrinky dink. To say the least the dehydrator stays in the modelling pit now. Lol

No, dehumidifiers take moisture out of the air. Dehydrators are used to dry food out. Its basically a small convection oven. And yes, it does work on lacquers, Ive used it in the past when painting w/ Tamiya rattle cans.

Seems like they'd be great if you live in a humid climate and you're painting with enamels, since they dry so slowly. You'd get some dust protection, too.

But, regardless of climate, does a dehydrator really make a difference with lacquers?

I paint with lacquers and live in warm, arid California desert, so I don't think I'd get much benefit. The whole state is dehumidified.

(I assume that a dehumidifier is the same as a dehydrator, no?)

Ddms