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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Sologuy on September 08, 2021, 04:42:28 PM

Title: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Sologuy on September 08, 2021, 04:42:28 PM: Guys... what are alternative heat methods besides light bulbs you use ?
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 08, 2021, 05:22:14 PM: Shredd who also lives in Florida just uses an electric blanket.
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Shredd on September 08, 2021, 06:02:33 PM: Yes... With a comforter or sleeping bag over the electric blanket, it goes up to 110 to 120*... I think that is 60* and above room temp. for the most part... I will have to measure it on colder days... I try not to glue-up on colder days because it makes ea-40 thicker and harder to use... I always tend to go with the flow...

Someone else on here uses 2 electric blankets and gets a much higher temp.
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Sologuy on September 08, 2021, 06:15:00 PM: I'm looking g for a lil more high tek than an electric blanket lol..
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Flem on September 08, 2021, 06:18:37 PM: Gee wizz, one of my favorite topics :bigsmyl:

You can use ceramic IR elements rather than incandescent bulbs, they use the same base socket. You could also use 15-25 watt puck lights if head room is a concern in your box. Or you could super charge your heat system with a repurposed electric baseboard heater element.
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Roy from Pa on September 08, 2021, 06:21:37 PM: Quote from: Sologuy on September 08, 2021, 06:15:00 PM
I'm looking g for a lil more high tek than an electric blanket lol..

How hot do you want the temperature to get in your heat box?
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Jeff Freeman on September 08, 2021, 08:50:08 PM: Mine cycles from 180-150° I only bake for a couple and a half Hours.
I don't want to burn my cookies. Incandescent bulbs 4-150 watt. JF
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Sologuy on September 08, 2021, 10:10:03 PM: I want the box 150, 160, 170 F
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Jeff Freeman on September 08, 2021, 10:17:37 PM: My temp limit switch is from Bingham. JF
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: skeaterbait on September 09, 2021, 04:05:07 AM: I switched to ceramic elements and put an Inkbird controller on mine, you can dial in whatever temp you want. I have even had it up to 200° for curing stabilizing juice.

All that said, I have about convinced myself that just letting the bow cure for a couple days on it's own (at least in the warmer times) is less stress than needing to remember to turn off the box.
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Jeff Freeman on September 09, 2021, 05:24:35 AM: I have a outdoor Christmas light timer on mine. JF
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Flem on September 09, 2021, 08:14:07 AM: Check this out. Low tech, high performance;

https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=164279.0
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: Pago on October 05, 2021, 01:14:10 AM: I use a space heater I removed the auto cutoff on and a home built automatic controller.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/258/19421817693_0b43e6b2e4_c.jpg)
Title: Re: HOT BOX / BOW BOX HEATING METHODS
Post by: KenH on October 05, 2021, 07:22:04 AM: I live in Florida too, Sologuy (Fort Myers), and I don't bother with a curing oven. I'm retired, and I'm not a production bowyer, so waiting a day for a bow to cure is no big deal. I set my open-top bending jig on the lanai out of direct sun...