Question for you builders, I am building a drying box for my rods after the wrap coating. I use LS Supreme. The box is 7 foot long x 12" square. I have read that a short stretch of heat tape running through eye bolts could be used to heat the box in conjunction with a dimmer switch to keep the temp at a constant temp between 85 and 90 degrees. Also in another article I have read that a person could use a length of christmas tree bulbs, the large type to do the same thing. I would like some input as to what some of you have done out there. Or is there another solution. Thanks Galen Briese

Search for Halogen undercabinet lights.

I have a pair of 2-bulb undercabinet halogen light fixtures. They each have a switch that is OFF/HI/LOW. Both are wired to a roller switch and then plugged into a timer. My box is in the basement and even in the cold Minnesota winters I can hit 90 degrees in my box without any problem. In the summer I can hit the 100's. I started out with only 1 fixture then moved to 2. It didn't really change my high end temp, just the speed at which it can reach its max.




Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

The only heated box that I have seen was at a seminar. A fellow from Amarillo, Texas had it at the show. If I remember, the box was 12"X12" and was lined with the type of insulation that is used on air conditioning ducts. In other words, aluminum foil. His heat source was a string of clear Christmas light bulbs, the large ones. The front of the box was made from clear plastic on hinges. The heat source was about six inches from the rod. The length of the box was long enough to accomodate a seven foot rod. The finish on his rods were very good.

I purchased a halogen light fixture last night at menards, it has three bulbs and is 20 inches long, I will try this out for a start. Thanks Galen

Galen, that is exactly what I used, and Matt is the one who directed me to them a few years back. My box is a little bit bigger than yours, 12x12x 14' long, I have 4 of them in there. My box is not insulated at all, it is 1/4" thick plywood with a 7' Plexiglas door, and another 7' plywood door. I can get the heat to rise in the box between 20-30 degrees. in about 2 hours - perfect for getting epoxy to dry tack free quickly.

Billy, I probably need to put two of the fixtures in there. I have shelving material for the sides and bottom, the pressed wood composite stuff, it was painted on both sides, and I intend to use a plexiglass lid on the top, I can take the box apart , the front is just latched in and the plexiglass will just cover it like a lid on a pot. I have mine rigged on the one end with a motor and v belt pulley and shaft with the coupler inside the box, the sewing machine motor is variable speed, controlled by a ceiling fan rheostat, and I will be able to apply finish at high speed, and slow down to dry. With the price of heating fuel this year It is hard to justify heating the house to 70 plus degrees to dry a rod, and also it should cut down on the dust, lint , etc that sometimes seems to show up. I have about 100.00 in the whole unit, I hope it works. Thanks for the help.