Hot Box/Epoxy

[buddyb]

What is everyone using for their hot boxes to cure epoxy? I've used light bulbs in the past but was wondering about something else?

Does anyone have experience using epoxy other than Smooth-On with out heat curing?

[Flem]

Used to use bulbs, too impatient to wait for them to heat up. Got a 3' baseboard heater element in mine now. Gets to 200 in about 10min. EA-40 is decent stuff, kind of thick and hard to spread without a heat gun. But everybody loves it. Smooth-on makes quite a few different epoxy's. I like their Epoxamite 102. Have used Industrial Formulators G1 and G2, also West Systems G-flex is good stuff. Most epoxy's cure at room temp, every 20 degree bump up in temp cuts the cure time in half. I would still be using G-1 if they did not get bought out by System three and discontinued. G-2 is excellent stuff but has a 48hr room temp cure time!

[buddyb]

How do you have the baseboard heater wired up, do you need to take it apart and what about a thermostat?

I'm really curious about G2 and was thinking of trying it.

[Flem]

G-2 is excellent epoxy. I'm just not that patient to wait for it to cure under vacuum.

I use a PID controller, thanks again to skeater for that idea. Wired for 220v

[T Folts]

I use an electric heater with a thermostat taken out and a remote thermostat that is built for making beer that has a hot and cold side so I use the heat side and I also have a little computer fan for air circulation Inside the Box that is lined with sheet metal and insulated

[buddyb]

Hmmm...I think I need more information on the heaters. Can you buy them at Lowes/Home Depot and such and do you strip the housing off and use just the heater element?

Also what are your thoughts on System Three's T88 epoxy?

[Buemaker]

https://prisguiden.no/kategorier/skotorker?s=test_rating%20desc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0MTA5tTM4AIVxh0YCh3_ngkOEAAYASAAEgJxbvD_BwE
I have been thinking of these shoe dryers. Do not know if they would give enough heat, but would circulate air nicely.

[Forwardhandle]

I have all the components for making PID controler with IR emitters but havent had time this winter to build it so I have been using my starndard fold up hot box its a electric blanket & 2 portable 200 watt incandescent bulbs its capable of hitting 190 Deg F really nothing fancy but does the job !

[goobersan]

120VAC  1000W heater less than 50 bucks !
Just might "need" to get one 

[Flem]

My baseboard heater was free, from a house remodeling job I was working on. I have seen them at my local Habitat For Humanity resale store, cheap. You don't need the housing. They come with a built in snap switch thermostat overheat protector, which can be used as a temp controller if positioned just right. I believe the overheat temp is 180. T-88 is structural epoxy, probably ok, not ideal.
The ceramic emitters that Ritchie was talking about work good also, unlike a light bulb they are made to produce heat. If I was not so cheap and used a different pressing system, I might use some of those silicone heat strips.

[Forwardhandle]

Flem I seriously looked at the heat strips but they where pricey the IR emitters where cheap & easy to replace I have made a few bows with EA-40 and no bake , never had a issue also have a good friend thats made a bunch of horn/ composite bows with EA-40 no bake and never had failure ! Some guys post cure to !