Tell me about your "Hot Box"

[dikman]

I have a similar issue, BHP, and this thread got me thinking. A box, with a fan blowing in warm air, should dry things pretty fast, I would think? So instead of messing around with lights just use a low-powered heater with a fan? Just thinking....

[malabar]

I use an actual oven.  I have a convection oven that I use for all of my leather work. I put the pieces on wooden racks inside of it. Set it to 170 (the lowest temp) and set it to run for 24 minutes.  At the end of the cycle, I check the pieces, put them back in the another 20 minutes or so, and voila, they're done.

tk

[Dwight]

4 hours ago, malabar said:

I use an actual oven.  I have a convection oven that I use for all of my leather work. I put the pieces on wooden racks inside of it. Set it to 170 (the lowest temp) and set it to run for 24 minutes.  At the end of the cycle, I check the pieces, put them back in the another 20 minutes or so, and voila, they're done.

tk

Thanks, Malabar, . . . but you just don't know me.  

That holster the "I" would put in there for 24 minutes, . . . might wind up in there for 24 hours, . . . or 2.4 hours, . . . or somewhere in between.  I guess you could call it an "Attention Span Lost Disorder", . . . my attention span just won't let me do those kinds of things.  

Fortunately, . . . it is something I have fought all my life, . . . most of the time successfully, . . . but I can just see me putting a $125 creation/product in that thing, . . . remembering to go to the mailbox, . . . stopping to spray some roundup on the way, . . . but having to find my sprayer first, . . . and needing to charge the battery in the tractor so I can move it out of the way to get in the shed where the sprayer was.

Thanks for the idea, . . . though.

May God bless,

Dwight

[msdeluca]

On 8/5/2016 at 8:20 AM, Dwight said:

Thanks, Malabar, . . . but you just don't know me.  

That holster the "I" would put in there for 24 minutes, . . . might wind up in there for 24 hours, . . . or 2.4 hours, . . . or somewhere in between.  I guess you could call it an "Attention Span Lost Disorder", . . . my attention span just won't let me do those kinds of things.  

Fortunately, . . . it is something I have fought all my life, . . . most of the time successfully, . . . but I can just see me putting a $125 creation/product in that thing, . . . remembering to go to the mailbox, . . . stopping to spray some roundup on the way, . . . but having to find my sprayer first, . . . and needing to charge the battery in the tractor so I can move it out of the way to get in the shed where the sprayer was.

Thanks for the idea, . . . though.

May God bless,

Dwight

Dwight,

I think he is saying that his oven has a built-in timer, which would solve your issue.... I have the same malady.

I'm working on a hotbox design that utilizes a thermostat, timer, CPU fan, and a couple of light bulbs.  The electronics will cost about $12, the wood and other misc. parts I've got lying around.

Defiant 6.4 Amp Timer

120x120mm CPU Cooling Cooler Fan 

Fine -50-110°C 12V W1209 Digital thermostat Temperature Control Switch + Sensor

•••••••••••••••

Optional Upgraded Thermostat

LED Digital 110V Temperature Controller Temp Sensor

Edited August 7, 2016 by msdeluca

[supercub]

Or, you can do what I do.  I use a food dehydrator similar to this one. Variable temperatures adjustable from room temp up to around 160 degrees.  And, it does a pretty good job making jerky!  Cabela's has one for around a hundred bucks.  I got mine at JC Penny a number of years ago.

[JLSleather]

I thought about those computer case cooling fans (probably because mine are loud) but I don't think they move the volume of air i want going.  

As for timers, any digital stop watch will work (I have one that does a countdown you can program up to like 9 hours) or a $3 alarm clock.  Dwight.. ya still gotta remember to SET IT

I've never used a "hot box".. just good size fan in front of the work at room temp (75-ish all year).  And I generally end up with holsters you could defend yourself with without the gun!  But now you folks got me started ....

 

 

Edited August 7, 2016 by JLSleather

[Dwight]

Well, . . . I just went and did it.  Looked around to see what I had, . . . what I needed to buy, . . . what I could try.

Wound up with a piece 48 by 18 more or less for the back, . . . couple of 10 inch pieces for the sides, . . . scrap 2 x 12 made the bottom, . . . 3/4 chip board for the top.

Got a 120 / 140 degree clicker off Ebay ($8.00), . . . cuts out at 140, back on when temp goes back down to 120.

Got 4 ea 100 watt bulbs from Lowes, . . . wired and fired it up.

Took 2 hours to get to 140, . . . never quite tripped the clicker, . . . and that is OK with me.  Gotta put some wires or racking in there, . . . plus going to put a piece of aluminum in there between the bulbs and the leather, . . . want the heat, but not the light, . . . gonna try it out later this week maybe.

So far got maybe $15 invested in it, . . . rest was stuff I just scrounged from the pack rat Dwight.

1 is the outside, 2 shows the bulbs in the bottom, 3 shows the clicker up in the top, 4 shows it all turned on and running.  Got a light switch on the left side behind the door that turns it on/off.

I didn't really plan on it happening that way, . . . put a couple magnetic catches on the right side to hold the door closed, . . . jacked up the hinges a bit on the left side so the mag catches would work, . . . wound up with a little crack a bit over 1/16 of an inch at the bottom and the top, . . . allows for a pretty good exchange of air.  

I am excited about it, . . . I think it will work, . . . and I won't have to worry about anything staying in there too long if I should forget.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited August 7, 2016 by Dwight

[dikman]

Well done, Dwight! I'm a great believer in using what's available (which is why I have all manner of "stuff" squirreled away!!).

As for forgetting things, you're not alone there. I don't believe it's actually "forgetting" rather a case of trying to do more than one thing at a time and getting distracted. I wish I had a $ for the number of times I've walked into my shed, or a room, and thought "damn, now what did I come here for?!!!).

[msdeluca]

Nice frankensteining Dwight...

I'm waiting on my stuff to get here... decided to order a couple of 150 watt black heat emitting ceramic lights (no light, just heat...)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351606514580

 

[Dwight]

NOW, . . . I'm interested in that heat lamp, . . . I'll have to keep this thread so when my first couple of bulbs burn out, . . . I can try these.  

Make sure you give us a good write up and pics, . . . that looks like a good idea my friend.

May God bless,

Dwight