What's in the box...
THE FAN
It may look like a simple white box, but this is a stout little 1/2hp fan. Rather than pushing air, this commercially rated exhaust fan sucks air through the box, front-to-back. It is intended for use in high moisture environments like kitchens and bathrooms, and its centrifugal design works better under high static load (a lot of resistance). Axial fans (like box fans) bog down under high static load, and don't actually move much air. For comparison, this fan shortened our drying time by almost 2/3s from 36-48 hours on our old system down to 12-18 hours in this box.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING...
An integrated digital timer switch allow you to dry your paper for exactly long enough, without leaving your equipment running unnecessarily while you are away from the studio. Programmable from 1m - 24h, it is easy to find the time to best suit your needs. (Ours are set to 12- and 18-hours for thinner and thicker sheets of handmade paper.) Note: This timer requires an additional CR2 battery for operation, included with purchase of course.
BUILT TO WORK AT YOUR SPEED
The fan speed control allows you to slow the speed to reduce the loudness of the fan. At full speed the fan moves 400 cubic feet of air per minute and is about 85db. In some studios that will go unnoticed, while in others that is deafening. Turning the speed down reduces the volume while minimally affecting the length of drying time. Additionally, an integrated fuse protects your hardware from electrical overloads.
MOBILITY
Space is a premium in any studio, and being able to maximize floor space is ideal. The footprint of our box is kept to a minimum, while four double-locking casters allow you to take a fully loaded box and roll it anywhere in your studio. Heck, take it down the block if you want! And wherever you choose to park it, the locking casters will keep it in place until you are ready to move it again.
WET STUDIO READY
The baltic birch plywood box is coated in several layers of all-weather rated outdoor wood finish. This provides a waterproof barrier, ready to stand up to anything you can throw at it. Electrical housings are rated for all-weather use, and it has an integrated fuse to protect against electrical overload. Studio outlets should still be GFCI for maximum safety in any wet environment (but you already knew that!).
All other hardware on the unit are stainless steel to withstand a damp studio environment.
AND THE REST...
The floating lid of the box is hinged and provides closure on the vacuum chamber created by the exhaust fan. It is also rigid to provide even pressure across the entire stack of drying paper. This encourages even drying, and produces flatter sheets. The lower-shelf of the box is untreated cedar, and is intended as a place to dry blotters, pellons, moulds, or your wet socks, directly in the path of the exhaust fan. Weights should be applied to the top of the floating lid to produce the best results.