AIC's 52nd Annual Meeting

Drying boards are one of the most frequently used equipment in Eastern painting and calligraphy conservation and mounting studios, aiming to dry and flatten artworks. Traditional drying boards are made of wooden boards, or a combination of wooden boards and paper, or wood strips with paper such as the classic Japanese-style Karibari.

High-quality wood strips and craftsmanship can be costly, limiting the options available to some studios and conservators and reducing the likelihood of use.

In this article, I will share how to use aluminum extrusion brackets instead of wooden strips and combine them with paper to create drying boards with the same functionality. This method allows for easy production of drying boards in any desired size, offering lightweight, high structural strength, and resistance to deformation. Moreover, connecting drying boards of the same size can also provide a convenient option for occasional conserving or mounting of larger artworks.