Hot box question

[wyatts daddy]

Tell me what you think of this Idea. I found a refrigerator box, stapled insulation to the inside of the box, lay the box on it's side leave open the top of the box and use a space heater to cure the glue. Do you think that will work? What temp and how long do I let it cook?
Thx Bill

[BenBow]

I've used a cardboard box lined with scraps of styrofoam and 3 100 watt bulbs to cook the kids bows I'm building. The temp didn't get above 120 degrees but it only need to be above 70 anyway. I would think that a frig box lined with insulation would work well. A temp between 160 and 180 works best for smooth on.

[wingnut]

Bill,

The space heater will over temp and shut off.  Light bulbs are easier and will do the job.  Pick up a themometer to put in the box so you can monitor the temp.

Mine uses 5 100 watt bulbs to hold 160 degrees but it's huge and can have three bows cooking at a time.

Mike

[Chortdraw]

I have 4 bulbs...3-200 watt and 1-100 watt and keep it at the same temp as Mike....160
   Seems to do the job.

[wyatts daddy]

Can you give me an Idea on how to set up the light bulbs? How long do I need to cook it for?
Bill

[OconeeDan]

What Mike said.  If you use lightbulbs, you can buy a thermostat from Bingham's, and it'll automatically control the lights so you don't have to monkey with it.
I think the refrigerator would make a good hotbox.  But I would leave the doors on it for a top.
Cook for 4 hrs if you are using Smooth-On epoxy.
PM or email me, I'll explain how the wiring is.  If you have a fax, I can send you a drawing.
Dan

[Bodork]

Bill, I plug mine into one of those $5.00 timers so I can set it for six hours and it shuts off by itself. Saves me the hassle of trying to remember to shut it off in case I get busy. Mike

[wyatts daddy]

Well I made the hot box today.  Here is some pics tell me what you think. I still need to add hinges, run the wiring for the lights and line it with the insulation. The dimentions of the box is 12"x18"x84". I'm going to try three lights. What wattage do you guys think I need to try? Please let me know.
Thx Bill
   
   

 Edited out the off site hyperlink

[OconeeDan]

Looking good so far.  You'll need 200watt bulbs.  Line the boxes with tin foil .
Dan

[Crooked Stic]

Another thing I did on my box was put some small wheels on it so I can move it around out of the way when needed.

[Pat B]

I added foil backed insulation board to the inside of my box and put a 1" hole in the top of one end and the botton of the other end. For drying wood, this gives the moisture somewhere to go. For curing glue, I plug the holes.   Pat

[Pat B]

...I also added a small fan inside to aid in wood drying.   Pat

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hey guys,

I'm no bowyer...( Not yet anyway....)I'm doing research on it right now. I'm not familiar with the "Smooth on" epoxy, or a hot box curing method for laminating wood. Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly the purpous for "cooking" the bow limbs? Is it just to excellorate the drying time? or is there other reasons behind this? I'm going to try my hand at putting a few bows together this spring. any sugestions would be helpful.  Thanks .Kirk

[Aeronut]

I used 1/2" foil backed insulation to make mine and use four light bulbs, two 100 watt and two 60 watt, wired through a dimmer switch.  I can vary the temp from 0 to 170 degrees.  I also use a timer since most of my 'cook time' is late in the evening.

 

Light bulbs are mounted in the lid.

 

It makes a very light and easy to move box.

 

Dennis

[OconeeDan]

Kirk, the Smooth On epoxy is an excellent epoxy.  It will cure in 24 hrs without heat, but with reduced strength.  Ok to do it that way for limb tips and other things.  But for glueing up a limbs and riser accent stripes, you want the most strength possible.  The hot box not only cures the epoxy to a stronger strength, it cures it in 4-6 hrs instead of a day.
Dan