oven question

[duke]

what would be wrong if i took bottom element out of oven & left broiler element in?
this would allow easier access ie; i could stand "widget" on oven floor without interference of element.
it would heat up oven enough, no?
cheers duke.

[tomg552001]

I do not think this will work. On preheat, the oven uses both to get to the desired temp, than i think to maintain it uses the bottom element. Don't quote me on this, i think i saw someone post this in a oven thread before. Dale would probally be a big help to you, since he's built a few ovens himself.

[Fireblade]

Yes you are right about that, the bottom is used all the time, the top just to preheat. But....who says you can't switch the wires on the back? To accomodate what fits your needs, easily done, but you may have to relocate your thermometer to a new place, easily done as well. Good luck

[non-stick]

exactly! I posted earlier about removing the top element altogether due to part sizes and restrictions. If you don't mind waiting an extra few minutes and a little slower recovery it's pretty safe to take it out. I'd maybe try what Fireblade says and remove the bottom but re-wire so that the top element is the service provider and then make some sort of removable tray that you can slide into the oven. (a stanchion of some sort for the larger parts to be coated and then rest upon if you will). Then again... you can always get about 6 ovens together and blow the sides out of two, tops out of two, bottoms out of 3 and weld them all together for one really big oven,lol. ..... (see the lunacy you get from me when you make fun of my widgets? lol). Hope *some* of that helped..... Russ

[duke]

i will test it out tomorrow & post results.
thanks again guys.
cheers

[DALE]

Duke if you want to set parts on the bottom just move the elements to the sides of the oven. Elements work just fine flipped up on their side.
Most oven bottoms are recessed below the door though and it will still be a pain in the &%$ to load and unload if you set the part on the bottom.You can use just the top element if you want. Remember heat rises. Thanks Tom

[duke]

thanks dale, i'll check out that idea of putting element on the side tomorrow morning.
cheers

[duke]

found that if i slide wire rack over bottom element i pick up 2 inches, before i even take out top element.
rack will touch element but,that should pose no problem as element has legs under it, so it can hold valve cover etc: weight easily enough.
will that be o.k?
cheers

[tomg552001]

I do not see to much of a problem doing that aslong as the element is supported by legs and not bearing a huge load. I'd only do this if you really need the extra room on specific parts.

[non-stick]

the only thing I'd be worried about in doing that would be the fact of heat transferring from the element to the rack itself,Duke. There's also the factor of creating your own "hot spot" in the oven if the part is too close to the element as well. We just don't want to see you burn parts on one end and just get into cure in the middle,ya know? That's about all I can think about on that subject.... Russ