type of element

[baz]

what type of element can i use for an oven , anybody tried coiled element .
i have a dozen of 4000 watts coil elements from a home electric furnace . what is the difference between a formed tube element (home oven) and coil element (electrick furnace type) any info would be apreciated
i am planning on a 6 x4x4 oven with 4 x 4000 watt elements with fan to circulate the air . thanks.

[pickleboy]

Originally Posted by baz

what type of element can i use for an oven , anybody tried coiled element .
i have a dozen of 4000 watts coil elements from a home electric furnace . what is the difference between a formed tube element (home oven) and coil element (electrick furnace type) any info would be apreciated
i am planning on a 6 x4x4 oven with 4 x 4000 watt elements with fan to circulate the air . thanks.

as for will the coils work i can say for sure. they should be ok. the math for the oven you quoted comes out to 6500 watts with good insulation and small leaks. also keep in mind that with 4 of those elements it will draw 72 amps on a 220 circuit. hope this helps.

[baz]

thanks pickleboy,right now i am using a baker s oven , about 3x3x3 .the manufacturer s id plate says 1100 watts 220 volts 50 amps , that oven takes
16 minutes to reach 400 . electrical supply is not a problem, i run one 15 hp compressor , one 5 hp , three big polishing units on 600 volts plus 6000 watt heater for winter cold and i still have room for more on my electrical setup .thanks again for the info pickleboy
i am a pro polisher but a newbee powdercoater...

[gourdhedd]

Baz, this may sound odd, but those furnace elements air cooled, that is, they are designed to heat an air stream flowing over them. If you take away that cooling flow of air, they may not last long. I once built a metal melting furnace using electric dryer elements as the heat source, and those elements would burn out if used full on (power on 100% of the time). The heat was reflected back from the insulating refractory and caused the elements to overheat and burn in two. Your PC oven is not as severe as that metal melting furnace, but I think you'll be happier using a radiant element such as those found in kitchen ovens.

Now, if you want to go to the trouble of obtaining some Kanthal wire and winding your own coil type elements, that method will work. Kanthal is the element wire used in ceramic kilns and is good for 2300deg or so without burnout.

[baz]

that is interesting to know,i will probably go ahead and try it anyway because i have about 15 of those alements for free but i will build the oven in a way that i can switch the type of element without any modification,

[didde]

I have three ovens, 18x18x20, 3x3x5 and a 4x4x6 and they all use coil elements, But they also have fans