How to make a hot box

[Trapper Rob]

Need to know how big & what materials I need to build a hot box.
Rob

[Roy from Pa]

Mine is 6 feet long, 18 inches high, and 18 inches wide. I used two sheets of 1/2 inch thick OSB, and 8, 1 x 3 x 8' furring strips. 3 light bulb sockets and a on/off switch. Some guys line them with aluminum foil, I didn't.

[Tom Leemans]

Pretty close to Roy's.
Mine is a little taller than it is wide and I used regular plywood because it was laying around. I lined mine with foil faced 1/2" insulation and my 3 bulbs are wired to a dimmer switch. Before I assembled the box, I clamped the two long sides together and drilled holes down the length that are just big enough to accept some pieces old aluminum arrow shafts. Those serve as a shelf inside that lets air flow around everything. There's also a provision to let air flow from the bottom on one end, to the top on another. Just a couple of 2" hole saw holes with flap covers you can swing into whatever position you want to control it. I even have a temperature/hygrometer gauge mounted to it for when things get real scientific.  :rolleyes:  But wait! There's more! I put wheels on one end and a handle on the other so I could move it around real easy.

[britt]

I built mine from Binghams plans.

[PZee]

Hi,

I know this is a bit contravertial, but I built mine out of a cardboard box. My brother-in-law works for GM and it was a solid, thick walled box that a diff was delivered in. I then narrowed it by cutting itin half and slipping the 2 halves passed each to make a box half as wide. I lined it with silver bubble-wrap type insulation. Got 200 deg out of 3 100watt bulbs, so I scaled down to 2 100watt and a 70watt. I have seen plans on poorfolkbows (Sam Harpers website) for an easy hotbox.

Good Luck

Pete

[Bowjunkie]

Since my shop is often unheated, I keep an old sleeping bag on my drying box to help maintain and regulate the heat. They sure look cozy in there    I just threw 4 more staves in there today. 1 osage, 1 hickory, 1 osage slat and a piece of bamboo, and a black locust stave.

Happiness is a stuffed drying box  

[Trapper Rob]

Thanks for the help guys.Do you hook all 3 lights together so they are all on at one time.I'm going to try to make a bow with bamboo & Ipe using smooth on do you know how long you leave it in the hot box to cure & do you have to watch the heat the whole time.
Rob

[Roy from Pa]

My switch turns on all three lights, but if I want less heat I just unscrew one or two bulbs. With Bamboo I do not make the box too hot, boo dries out fast, about 85 degrees is plenty. For smooth on I would let it in there a good 16 hours at 85. Put a thermometer in the box and see how hot it gets with three bulbs, then 2 bulbs, etc. I get 85 degrees from two 69 watt bulbs.

[Trapper Rob]

Thanks again I'm new at this so when my stuff comes in the mail & I get started I'll be asking a lot of questions.Going to try to get stuff to build hot box this weekend.
Rob

[Roy from Pa]

Not a problem, Rob. When I glue up a BBO with d/r, I let it in the form for 24 hours to be safe. Not sure what your plans are though.

[Trapper Rob]

Thanks Roy I'll make sure I leave it for at least 24 hours.Rob

[Roy from Pa]

Rob, you don't really need a hot box to glue up a bamboo & Ipe using smooth on. Smooth On will cure just fine at room  temperature of 70 degrees for 24 hours. Hot boxes are needed for glass bows though. Just thought I'd let ya know that. But if your shop is on the cool side, then yes build your hot box.

[Tom Leemans]

If you use a dimmer switch, you can always leave 3 bulbs going.