How long do oiled chips need to dry before use? (1 Viewer)

[Jake14mw]

Hi all,

Picked up some old Greek key mold China Clays before Gene threw them out. Certain colors were very dry and definitely needed some oil. I don't want the oil messing up my table cloth. How long do they need to air dry before using them? Thanks!

 

[BearMetal]

The oil doesn't ever dry; it's either absorbed by the chip or by the paper towel. Everyone is different here; I usually let them sit on the paper towel for 12 hours, then flip for another 12. They then get racked where they sit and I check them daily for anything accumulating around the edges and just wipe it off.

If you've got visible oil on the faces, there's too much and it just needs clean paper towels to soak it.

 

[allforcharity]

Next day should be good.

 

[Colquhoun]

Yep, mineral oil never evaporates, unlike more volatile oils.
I think whatever soaks in will be through the fibers in the chip, because the plastic part is unlikely to absorb anything.

Frankly, I think oil doesn’t really hydrate a chip like it does wood. Oil just scatters the light making it appear darker and more colorful.