winter project help

[JWarnken]

I am gathering information and materials to build my first bow.   So far I have:
-Watched the Bingham Projected video on building take-down bows
 -Gathered some of the materials for the laminating oven

Has anyone made one of these ovens?
How did it work?
Has anyone used any other material than the tin foil for the liner of the oven?  I was in at one of the hardware superstores last weekend and thought about lining it with one of those insulation boards with silver on the outsides.  Anybody have any thoughts on this or any other thoughts, hints, or recommendations, I would greatly appreciate them.  I’m excited to get started, but want to gather as much information as I can first.  

Thanks,
Jim

[Jason Scott]

I glued that white 3/4" foam insulation board with foil on one side to line the inside of my plywood box oven. Some people just use that foam board alone but it would get destroyed in my garage so I used thin plywood for the outside structure. I mounted five light sockets in a series to the top with 100w bulbs and a bbq thermometer inserted half way up the front side. As long as your form will fit in there along with whatever pressure system components and it will maintain 150+ F you will be fine. I don't have a thermostat but I lucked out because my box does not get over 175 F. My box is 72" long x 24" tall x 18" wide. I recomend guilding one this big in case you get the urge to build a one piece longbow. I am not sure if foil alone would alow my box to get hot enough especially this time of year in the garage. I typically cook my bows at night and get up to unplug the lights to alow it to slow cool at about 2 am. When I get up in the morning the bow has cooled to room temp.

[stickmonkey]

I built mine as well out of the 1" foil sided foam. I did encase the outside with some 1/8 ply to add too its durabiliy in my shop. I run four lights,100 watts, on a dimmer switch and use my digital bbq thermeter to measure the temp. I also included a groove in the side of the box that allows a piece of foam board to make a  3' long chamber for cooking my take down limbs.

[Russell S.]

i build my box from CHEEP (6$ a sheet) 1/2 inch ply ,  insulated the bottom with 3/4 white foam, then added a false top so there is a 2" air gap in the lid.  then i covered everything with the silver buble warp stuff home depot sells.  
with 4 100watt light bulbs my oven hits 150at about 1 hr with a bow in it.  then the thermostat starts to cycle at 2 hrs. with out anything in the box it will hit 200F in a hurry.  i have not pushed it to see how far it will go.
my box is a bit smaller then the bingham one..  12"x20"X80" outside dimensions

total coast:

12$ for ply wood with some to spare
Left over 3/4 inch ply to reinforce corners
4 x 1.90$ for light fixtures
12$ for wire
i had a plug
0.86$ for 4 100watt light builds.
~3.00 for 3/4 inch 2X4ft foam sheet
~ 20.00 for the bubble insulation
8.75 for thermosat from bingham's (i was ordering stuff anyways so i don't count shipping)
i borrowed one of my wife's meat thermometers so i can see what the temp inside is. (it got smooth on on it so now its mine)

I also already had TB II for adding reinforcing strips,  lots of 1 1/4 screws and 2 rolls of aluminum tape i used to seal and hold the bubble wrap., my oven is solid i walk across the top if it to get to things in the garage.  
if you would like i can send some pics.  i the design was all in my head so i cant send it.

[JWarnken]

Jason, Shane, and Russell,

Thanks for the great information!  
After getting your very helpful feedback, I built the plywood part of the oven last night.  I am going to line the box with the silver foam boards.  
New questions…  what kind of glue should I use to attach the boards to the box?  Should I mount the lights on the box and cut out holes in the foam boards or should I place the foam in first and then mount the light fixtures on the underside of foam?  Once again you thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Shane, with your dimmer switch and thermometer, do you act as the thermostat by continuously checking and adjusting the temperature?

Jason, thanks for the tidbit about the temperature in your garage.  I might have to try my first one in a setting other than my garage for fear of a Montana winter messing up my first attempt.

Russell,
Probably a dumb novice question, but what is TBII?  I am having a hard time picturing the false top and where all you placed the bubble wrap.  Pictures would be great if it is not too much of a hassle.  
 
It’s funny to think about cooking up a bow.  I am excited to get going on this project.

Thanks again!  This site is awesome and the people are even better  
Jim

[Gitche Gumee]

I built mine out of 1/2 inch OSB. i lined it with Reflectex, its like Mylar covered bubble wrap. I put for sockets in it and it gets to 165 degrees. I got one of those fans out of a computer and out it on one end and then made a hole on the other so I could dry my lams before I glue them up.

Gitche Gumee

[Jason Scott]

Good ones because I made mistakes. I used some glue at first that disolved the foam but luckily I had spare foam. I used liquid nails just because I had some lying around, then I used some silicone because it was lying around too, it worked. TBII should work because it is just a really good wood glue and should not have the chemicals that liquid nails does and not ruin your foam. You can find Tite Bond Two or TB III (latest water proof version) in the adheasives sections at any hardware or even wal-mart.
I mounted my light sockets to the foam, I should have notched the foam out because the foam shrunk and the fixtures wobble. I will just keep tightening them down, no biggy. Make sure you will be able to get the form (fully rigged out like a dry run)to fit in there and not interfere with the light bulbs so the lid can fully close without cracks. When you are all glued up is a bad time to find out the lid won't shut.