Gunsmithing cure oven

[imonyourcouch]

I saw a cerakoted pf9 and I wanted it. I did some research and decided that I could figure this out. I am going to build my own oven. I have some 55 gallon drums around so I thought that I could use that. I then found a dryer heating element in the junk pile. I have searched and I can't find anyone else that has made an oven this way. All of my experience with this comes from making ugly drum smokers.
I have a savage 110 that was given to me that I want to experiment with. I never use this gun. I've loaned it out the last 3 years for deer hunting.


The is 33 inches tall. Is this tall enough?
How far away from the heating element do I need to keep the parts? barreled actions etc.

Is a fan a necessary?

What other important things am I overlooking?


I know this post is probably lacking information, but I don't really know what's useful. Of course I am trying to do this on the cheap, but I would appreciate your opinion as to what is necessary. right now I just have the element on a switch. No automatic temperature controls yet. I am afraid that will kill my budget quickly since I still need to buy a spray gun and a blaster.

 

[wadebrown]

Re: cure oven

This link may help you http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1773653&nt=4&page=1

 

[imonyourcouch]

Re: cure oven

Thanks Wade.

That's a great thread. I had read that one. I didn't want to dirty up their thread.

I decided to throw everything together. I am having some heat distribution problems, and it just plain isn't getting hot enough. Yet. I have some pictures of my setup that I will upload soon. The highest I have hit so far is 242 at the top of the barrel, but the bottom is much lower. I am thinking I need something just above the element to diffuse and hold the heat.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: cure oven

You need an internal fan to circulate the heat, with the fan placed at the top of the oven. I built my own oven and it is quite a project. Great to have a Dad who is an electrician.I built mine out of a cheap gun safe and insulated the walls. The dimensions are approx. 30'x60". I am using (2) 1500 watt elements for heating with a thermostat and it works quite good. You definitely need to insulate the walls to retain heat. Good luck with your project. Paul.

 

[LRI]

Re: cure oven

I use a pair of 500w halogen bulbs. They are mounted at the floor of a cheap gun safe I bought from Menards. Lined with foil backed foam to insulate.

320F all day long. Didn't need a fan. I have 3x thermometers and they all read within 10F of each other.

Wired rheostats on the lights.

Only gripe is size. I need a bigger oven now. Looking online at govt auctions. They occassionally have HUGE food warming ovens for sale. 400F capacity. Buddy bought one and turned it into a smoker for meat.

C.

 

[Some Day]

Re: cure oven

Why not use plywood you can make it as big as you wont then.that's what my friend uses to build long bows an recurve bows.

 

[ugsly]

Re: cure oven

I did the same as Chad did. Works very well but have the same problem as him. MORE ROOM

it is a little small but works very very well. I had the fab shop line it with 14 gauge sheet metal. My lights are also mounted a little high I need to drop them down more.

Heres a pic

 

[imonyourcouch]

Re: cure oven

I have made some modifications to my oven. I will get some pictures up as soon as i get back in the house. I have a question about insulation now. I read that I can use figerglass insulation as long as its not backed. Does that sound right?

 

[cal50]

Re: cure oven

I made my oven from a donor high school locker. I added insulation and another inside wall of stainless steel. My heat source is a Walmart $7 hot plate with the thermostat removed sitting on fire bricks in the bottom. I have mine wired into a process controller with relay. I have run it up to $400 and the outside wall is still touch safe. No fan in mine either. A simple rod through the cab is my hanger with fixed and swivel hooks. I also mounted a light I had laying around. It help to have good light when you are spraying.

It's not pretty and you can see my air brush spray patterns all over it when I set my spray gun. It's big enough for my use and take up little floor space. Works well for a spare key vault....

 

[ugsly]

Re: cure oven

Go by a HVAC place and buy some Mineral wool (I believe thats the name), it will go up to 1300 degrees if memory serves me right. Can get different thicknesses also.

 

[former naval person]

Re: cure oven

Mineral wool works well. Hold it in place with some aluminum window screen.

 

[imonyourcouch]

Re: cure oven

http://i.imgur.com/6t4du.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/8LfDg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9k3ww.jpg

It will get to 250 but it takes forever. I added a fan to regulate the heat. I also added insulation around the barrel after I took the pictures. I must be trying to heat too large of a cavity with the element I have. I guess I should keep my eyes open for something taller and skinnier.

 

[ugsly]

Re: cure oven

looks like some insulation would help. My guess is your loosing a lot of heat. Its looking good though

Kc

 

[Txmxracer]

Re: cure oven

Has anyone used an electric smoker? I have one and it looks like it would work great for the smaller stuff.

shane

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: cure oven

You can make one out of a locker or cheap gunsafe in under a hour.