Anyone out there using a heated drying unit? I have plans for an oven in relation to bamboo building, but maybe somehting more simplified for assisting in the finishing of guide wraps.
Would be great if some had plans to share, or simply an explanation of what they did. I looked at the photos on the site and saw a heated wall unit....just can't quite tell the setup from the pics. Thanks for any input.

I wouldn't imagine you'd want it to be very hot as too much heat will change the characteristics of your epoxy. But I can definately see one being of use in your garage on a cold winter night.

As for plans, I doubt you'd need them. All you need is a plywood box big enough to fit your rod turner/dryer (or build it all into one unit) lined with some form of insulation like the foil covered foam sheets available at any hardware store. Then attatch a hair blow drier to one end put a small vent at the other. If you were really slick you could build a little return tube to the allow the outgoing air to pass thru the blow drier again. Then you could set the blow drier at a very low setting and have much less heat loss.

Mark

Thanks Mark. I kinda was thinking the same thing, my only concern is I don't think alot of air movement would be good, so I was thinking along the line of what bamboo ovens are like. Heat source at one bottom corner, with a channel along the bottom for the heat to exit at the other end of the box (inside), then have an exhaust in the opposing upper corner. Don't know if that makes sense.....harder to explain.
That is exactly why I was looking into it. My rod room has just recieved a visitor (my wife's scrapbooking stuff) so now I have to keep it "orderly" and not have stuff "scattered" all over the place. I was thinking of moving the finishing process into our garage. I have an old 8ft rod bench out there that I could do application on, then move the blank to the drying unit above on the wall.
Elrod

What about putting "Heat tape" The length of the inside. This is the flat electric "heat" tape that is wrapped around water pipes tp keep them from freezing. It's inexpenive and uses very little power.

Mike

Great idea! Don't know the cost, but was considering building the unit double walled so I could put insulation in between. Even looking at using large HVAC ductwork with the same double walled idea, would have to reinforce one side in order to hinge it and have access to the rods, but will let everyone know what I come up with.
Thanks for the ideas and tips.
Elrod