Hello all,
I am making a bow oven 12"x12"x80", just threw in the insulin and was wondering instead of lights could I use a heat gun. My thought was to cut a hole in the middle just large enough to stick the heat gun into then turn it on full blast. The gun has two settings 700 degrees and 1000 degrees. I thought it would work but wanted to know what you guys thought about it before I tried.
I have done it before with a box made entirely out of sheet foam and cutting a hole in the end. It took a few minutes to regulate the heat by slightly prying the lid open but when i hit the temp I wanted it stayed constant for the time I needed.
I dont think its the safest way to go so I stayed in the room and monitored the bow cooking the entire time.
You don't need anywhere near those temperatures to cure glue and certainly not to dry out wood. You'd probably end up checking/cracking just about any wood with those temps. Light bulbs are about as simple as it gets. I also agree with Stag, you're risking a fire with a heat gun in that tight of a space.
I would be worried that the area closest to hte heat gun would be way too hot,if you got the ends up to temperature-
Holy crap, that would get hot! If you do it, don't leave it alone. I get nervous enough using a heat gun for toasting bellies. Do an experiment. Hold your heat gun a few inches away from a piece of wood for a few minutes.
Hey thanks for all the advise, heat gun isnt sounding to good right about now.
Just to clarify I regulated the temp to an even 180 degrees withe gun set at the lowest setting.
Heat strips work much betta!
I built my oven 12" wide x 22" tall and 88" long, I followed the Binghams plan. I found that I could use four 100 watt bulbs to maintain 165 degrees. I'm using the 150-180 degree thermostat from Binghams. I built a 2x4 wood frame under the form and added castor wheels, I store it under my build bench, I just roll it out when I need it. I also bought a good pin timer, I set timer to run the pre heated oven for 5 hours after I put form in oven after glue up. I use air hose forms and the recurve form I built is 15 inches tall I think my longbow form is 14" tall.
QuoteOriginally posted by Broke another one:
Hello all,
I am making a bow oven 12"x12"x80", just threw in the insulin and was wondering instead of lights could I use a heat gun. My thought was to cut a hole in the middle just large enough to stick the heat gun into then turn it on full blast. The gun has two settings 700 degrees and 1000 degrees. I thought it would work but wanted to know what you guys thought about it before I tried.
have to ask "why did you throw your insulin in your bow oven?" :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
seriously you don't even need an oven. I got rid of mine by changing the type of epoxy I use on my bows. I use "WEST SYSTEM" marine epoxy, it doesn't need heat to cure, it's flexible and resilent