Bow oven temperature

[Dannon]

How long does it normally take you guys bow ovens to get to temperature?

[Pat B]

Mine within an hour or less. I'll preheat it before starting the prep work.

[Kopper1013]

Quick but I have 4 300W bulbs in it hahaha

[Dannon]

Hmmm, I bought 150w bulbs. I turned it on at 10:00 am, checked it at around 12:30. It was only up to about 125. That's with 4 bulbs

[Robertfishes]

My oven was built to the Binghams specs. As long as the shop is above 65 degrees. With four 100 watt light bulbs I can get 160 degrees in an hour, and 165-170 in 2 hours. I sometimes run two 150s and two 100s if shop temp is below 65 degrees. I don't turn lights on till the form is in oven, I have a pin timer for the oven.

[Pat B]

I insulated my box with foil backed insulation foam board. That helps.

[Wagstaff]

About 45 mins, my oven hits 160...

[Scott F]

My box heats up quickly and I only use (3x) 100 watt bulbs.  I never concerned myself with getting the bow too hot, but I use 1" thick foil-backed insulating board so it retains heat well.

With that, during my last glue up I noticed that it didn't get as warm as I wanted it to be - not by a long shot.  I panicked then read as much as I could find on the web about Smooth On curing at near room temp.  That bow is fine and shoots well; glue lines are tight and there is not perceivable difference with the glue's properties from any other bow that I have built.  I am waiting for a couple more layers of Tru Oil to dry prior to posting any pictures of it.

I'll have some more Smooth On at my house on Wednesday and I intend to glue up my daughter's bow that night.  I may not even put it in an oven, I'll just keep it in the form longer.

[Pago]

5 min at most but mine is heated with a hacked space heater. 170 F

[Mad Max]

8 bulbs
some 150 and some 100
1 hour with the form inside

[goobersan]

Maybe an hour. I start mine when I begin glue-up.

[jess stuart]

I have never timed mine.  I did line it with insulation and usually by the time I get everything prepped the snap disk is shutting it off periodically.  I have five bulbs in mine and vary them from 100 watt to 200 watt depending on the time of the year.