Many controllable factors affect the quality of investment castings including the dryness of the ceramic shell, which becomes the casting mold. After the wax patterns are dipped into the slurry, they must be allowed to dry to an optimal point for the specific castings that are being made. Minimum drying times must be established taking into account the ambient temperature and humidity, as well as air flow from fans. These factors can be adjusted to establish drying times that optimize the casting workflow and quality.