You don't really need to dry it off. I operate transformers of the higher voltage variety under water intermittently for cooling. It won't harm the transformer because, as someone previously mentioned, the transformer is of lower resistance than the water, so. unless you do something like short...
Building a transformer
You should try to scale back your experiment. There is no practical use for a lifter with that power. Also, at that high current, it would probably catch your wood frame on fire when it carbon tracked. I recommend you use a neon sign transformer. These come in all...