hotbox heat

[bigbob2]

Will have to do some running repairs on my hotbox soon and a singular lonely thought came to my geriatric brain. As my globe holders are bayonet type and are mounted under the lid they eventually break due to the heat although well wrapped in insulation.Has any one used , say a heater fan at one end and an exhaught fan at the other? Not sure how one would then regulate the temperature but it would be a constant even flow of heat through the box.

[skeaterbait]

This is a totally uneducated response but I would think that would add too much cool air and not achieve the heat you need.

In the past I have used a PC fan inside mine to add circulation to even out the heat, but I have also read where others say the heat will ultimately kill the fan.

[Pat B]

I use incandescent light bulbs(4x100,200) and an inline thermostat from Bingham's(to 168deg). I also added a small fan inside to circulate the heat. If I want less heat I unscrew light bulb(s). I also have a 1" hole at the top of one end and another at the bottom of the other end that I keep open when drying wood to let the moisture out, by convection. If I am curing glue I plug these holes.

[fujimo]

Bob- i too have found the fittings get brittle and break- due to the heat- i have changed to ceramic fittings now, and think i will shroud the fitting in some aluminium foil as well.
i have changed to using heat lamps- as we cant get 200w globes in canada anymore.
 been thinking more and more about the heat tapes- i know some guys that use them commercially for building  bows- and they seem really happy with them

[goobersan]

Bob, you're on a good path. look for a digital controller like a J/C A419 and a heater by Stego Inc. or the like. These are ceramic heaters used for keeping large control enclosures warm and dry. You might be fine with an ordinary ceramic heater also. Just do some homework on the safety business. The small one I have only hits 120F but the larger models can reach the temps we need for bows.

[bigbob2]

thanks guys, just came across some ceramic fittings with metal insert screw threads so will try them in the interim, apparently if I go the heater/fan route later I can use the normal fan speed switch.Appreciate your input.

[kennym]

Look for rough service bulbs, I can still get them in higher wattage last I checked .

[JamesV]

Check E*** for 100 watt pre-ban light bulbs. I bought 24 GE blubs for less than a dollar each delivered

James

[bigbob2]

We can still get the bulbs only in halogen but still work well. I think I might be good to go once I find the time to do all the modifications.Thanks everyone for you input it is appreciated guys!

[bigbob2]

We can still get the bulbs only in halogen but still work well. I think I might be good to go once I find the time to do all the modifications.Thanks everyone for you input it is appreciated guys!

[WESTBROOK]

Anyone ever use an element out of a electric baseboard heater?

A baseboard heater is not very expensive and it should be an easy retro-fit into a hot box.

Sounds like a good idea....