Speed Dry Your Clay
Don’t throw trimmings into a plastic container and let them sit for a week or so to dry before reclaiming. Reclaiming works best when the clay is bone dry. Here is a simple technique to speed the drying process. Purchase a wastepaper container from an office supply store. Get one that is made out of expanded metal so it contains many holes. These containers are usually sprayed with paint, so it does not rust but you could use a plastic bin as well, as long as it has mesh like sides. When you trim or carve your pieces, throw the scraps in the container to air dry. It will take half the time to dry and you can wash out the empty container with water to easily clean it.