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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: fujimo on April 15, 2011, 10:06:00 PM

Title: heat box dimensions help!?!
Post by: fujimo on April 15, 2011, 10:06:00 PM
any body have suggestions for building a heat box- gonna build one this weekend, and would surely like to benefit from the experience here.
what light bulb sizes etc.
thanks all
wayne
Title: Re: heat box dimensions help!?!
Post by: Roy from Pa on April 16, 2011, 08:53:00 AM
Make it 2 x 2 x 6. Mine is a tad smaller and I wish I had made it a little wider and taller. I use three 200 watt bulbs. I unscrew a bulb or two depending on what I am doing. With all three bulbs in, it gets to around 150 degrees. Or you can use lower wattage bulbs.

  (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/IMG_6340.jpg)
Title: Re: heat box dimensions help!?!
Post by: eflanders on April 16, 2011, 09:38:00 AM
I would suggest 24" x 24" x 84".  It could be made from one 4' x 8' sheet of material and the added length will allow forms up to 72" long in easily.
Title: Re: heat box dimensions help!?!
Post by: Dick in Seattle on April 17, 2011, 12:57:00 AM
you definitely want length beyond 72".   Many longbows are laid up at 72 and would barely fit in an oven only as long as they are.   Also, should you ever decide t try a hose pressure system, the hose sticks out quite a bit beyond the ends of the layup form.
Title: Re: heat box dimensions help!?!
Post by: canopyboy on April 17, 2011, 08:23:00 AM
I'm making one now.  I went for 82.5 x 24 x 14 inside dimensions.  I figured I wanted the height and length, but I didn't see the need for the extra width.  Time will tell if this was a mistake.