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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ARTHUR Nicholas on January 30, 2023, 11:05:36 AM

Title: Heat box
Post by: ARTHUR Nicholas on January 30, 2023, 11:05:36 AM
Just glued  one up and put it in he box check it at  3  hours and was good at some point after that  hose end blow off glue looks good think it had enough time to stay together. Thanks
Title: Re: Heat box
Post by: Kirkll on January 30, 2023, 09:32:03 PM
I hate it when that happens.... I just had an air hose lose its pressure on one myself, but it wasn't completely deflated in the morning. I use heat strips, and the bow is cured in less than an hour, so my lay up was unaffected.

What kind of pressure are you using in your hose? Putting an air hose in a hot box typically increases the pressure. I seldom use much over 50# pressure, and it can be done with less.

If you get a spray bottle and put a little dish soap in it you can check for leaks by airing it up to 60# and spray the ends. That is typically where they leak.   I use two hose clamps on mine.     hope that's helpful   Kirk
Title: Re: Heat box
Post by: Mad Max on January 30, 2023, 10:36:21 PM
Yep 2 hose clamps, 1 in the valley
Title: Re: Heat box
Post by: Buggs on January 31, 2023, 09:54:42 AM
EA-40 is hard after an hour at 150deg :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Heat box
Post by: garyschuler on January 31, 2023, 10:32:46 AM
I always use 2 clamps on each end and test before each layup by dipping in a coffee can of water and watching for fast or slow leaks by watching for bubbles.
Title: Re: Heat box
Post by: Kirkll on January 31, 2023, 11:20:52 AM
EA-40 is hard after an hour at 150deg :thumbsup:

I haven’t cured a bow in a hot box since about 2008, but using heat strips EA 40 is  pretty much cured in 20 minutes at 160. I set my timer for an hour, and let the temp slowly rises to 160-170 in about 40 minutes, and I let it cook another 20 at that temp.

 I could expedite that by adjusting the amps and bring the temp up faster and save more time…but I don’t mess with it anymore.

Even so…. I always let my limbs or bow cure for 24 hours after I pull them out of the form before stringing them up and tillering.  Just insurance….