I built a hot box to serve two purposes, primarily to dry staves for self bow... for which purpose i gather from Dean Torges's book i want 95-100 degrees and some air flow.  and also i can use this to cure epoxy on glass bows if i am ever so inclined.  i get 100 degrees with two 40W bulbs, and about 120 with four 40W  bulbs. I know i can get the 160-180 needed for smooth on by using higher wattage bulbs. my question is this: for drying staves, what would be the best way to get the the desired airflow and heat on this box?  could i just put a small fan in the box? or do i need to circulate air in and out of the box? maybe put in vents in the ends, adjustable/closeable vents.... probably one low and one high? what would you guys do?

if you are scratching your head about some of my engineering there... i had to start improvising with what i had once i realized that because of the way i put it together, my lid would not fit OVER the top as intended, but would fit INSIDE the top.... as is not useful.    

Use the High/low vent hole application. Anyhow, that's how I do it.  Ray

If you can find a 110 volt box fan for a computer one will work well. I put it on one end and a couple of holes on the other end.

tried the vents. seems to work good holding 100 degrees with 4 40w bulbs, and the air flow is light but definitely there. used a piece of lint to test it... sucked it right in on the low side, blew it out on the high side. time to dry some wood! thanks guys.... may try to add a fan later if one falls in my lap.

If you have a old computer collecting dust you can use the power supply as the fan source and with 4 12vdc auto head lights you could use  it as the light / heat source also.

I guess it's Ok:)

Roy you really are a pain in the a$$!  

Thanks, but this link will help your hot box decisions out:)
I mean how difficult can it be to put light bulbs in a box for heat? Heck even a Navy Girl kin do it:)
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000292.htm

ohhhhhhh..... ok...... geeze all this time and i had no idea what was goin on down there.  what have you found that works for you? fiber supplements or topical creams?  

You made my day Roy

Echspam, just forget it:) LOL Scar):

LOL

Eric your box is good, the lint test proves that convection is working fine.

yep i figured as much.... got a bow incubating in there right now. hickory pyramid 54" ntn.  gonna be for my daughter.

I guess the bulbs help to dry things out. Only problem is you have to sit there soooooo Long lol

ummm.... ok....    

Beware of one thing; It has been my experience when I put wood over 16% mc in my drying box it will check in spite of being sealed well.

I let green wood sit in my shop for a few months before I put it in my drying box, same with fresh cut bamboo.

Eric...........

I found a 4"X4" 120 volt cabinet fan on fleaBay for cheap. Use a ceiling fan controler to get the right flow and it will pull the heat from the top and out the end. With the fan you can also dry wood without any heat, just the air flow.

James