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Question for toymakers

Sweet Louise

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Pat
I make bird toys for my Louise, friends' birds, and local rescues. There is one area that I haven't found an efficient means: drying the blocks after dyeing them. I purchase bulk from Avian Antics, so I am dying pounds of blocks/slats at a time. What equipment do folks use for drying. last time, I used newspaper covered by paper towels and ended up with unevenly colored wood and a mess on the countertop itself. I have been doing small batches-but this leave a mess for days...
Is there a rack system folks use? Other ideas? I have seven grocery bags ready for the dye stage but no efficient idea on drying them.
Thank you for any suggestions.
 

Shezbug

ASK ME FOR PICTURES OF MY MACAW!
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Cake cooling trays work a treat.
 

Mizzely

Lil Monsters Bird Toys
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I put mine onto some reusable paper towels type cloths on top of baking sheets. If using paper towels etc I've found that if you use really high quality, absorbent paper towel it will leech a lot of the dye as it's drying. The type of dye and how you're doing it definitely matters. (Food coloring vs gel color, alcohol vs water etc)

But, even my blocks have some sides that have uneven color at times. The birds don't care! ;)

I don't use baking racks anymore simply because it's been easier for us to clean up without them.

A fan and/or dehumidifier set up in the drying room also helps get the blocks dried faster to ensure they don't lose as much color.

@Jan has a whole guide:


Another guide I have used before that gave good results:

 

Sweet Louise

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cool, thank you, good ideas. I ordered some cooling racks.
 

calibird

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I use these with newspaper underneath them. Robot or human?
I am sure there are cheaper options but just wanted to give you an idea.
 
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