Cooking up an oven project...

[kchotboat]

I would like to see the pictures of your oven when you get a chance.

[craigcraig]

i've been pcing for about six months and just using a regular oven which has been great for small parts, but now theres alot more buisness and bigger parts. i guess you could say i'm getting to big to fast. i need to build a big enough oven to at least fit bike frames and atv frames. the biggest problem i'm gonna have is its going to have to be electric, no propane because of the garage location. i don't even know where to start on building the oven. money is an object but not to much of one. any information or pictures or plans would be of great help.

[tinbender722]

The size of the oven that you want to build, your ability to do sheetmetal work and whether you have access to fabrication equipment all determine the best way to build the oven. If you have to do it all by hand with limited or no equipment, the best way would be to build panels with flat sheets of metal and metal stud framing and then fasten the panels together to make the box. If you have access to shears and brakes, then the easiest way would be to build two pans for each panel and sandwich the insulation inside of them. Most commercially made ovens that I researched are made from 18 and 20 gauge metal with 4" x 4pound density mineral wool insulation. I fabricated my oven from 20 and 22 gauge metal with 2" x 6 and 8 pound density mineral wool insulation. I would guess 24 gauge metal could be used but it would not be as rigid. I don't know what the metal cost would be in your area, but I do know that steel prices have gone up about 70% in the last year - 24 gauge galvanized that used to cost me 14.00 per 4 x10 sheet now costs 23.00. Decide on a size oven that you want and I will be glad to try to do some long distance tutoring to help you get it built. You might want to see if you can find a small independent sheetmetal shop in your area who might be open for some bartering - powdercoat something for him, he builds your oven panels. Most small owner/operated shops would probably at least consider it, if you could offer something that they needed. I have done quite a few deals like that over the years - sometimes it is better than trading money.

Leo

[trsick]

Sorry about the last post. I am in the middle of constructing an oven (8'x8'x8'). I found this item (potential oven shell) on an older post here on Caswell (go to ebay & search for item # 4508551012 )
I purchased the same one for my oven outer shell. It is built very stury & was cheaper than buying the steel myself. I should have it constructed & operating in about 10 day's. I plan to use 8 (4 on each side wall) 3100W heating elements (as found on Viper's website). Although I am very interested in the previous posts about heating with a kerosene bullet style heater?? I think I got most of it thought out.
I am having some difficulty on the floor design. The oven shell I purchased does not come with a floor. I do not want to set it up on my concrete floor, as I think it would be a problem & $$$ heating it all up on a cold floor every time. I was thinking of constructing a 8'x8' floor of 2x4 wood frame, insulate it with "rock wool", then cover the frame with "handy board" for heat protection, then cover the handy board with a layer of 18 gage sheet metal. Anyone think this is a problem/hazard? I am hoping the handy board, along with the sheet metal will provide enough heat protection for the wood frame floor. Your comments are most welcome!
Thanks
Bob

[tinbender722]

Bob
I think that I would be concerned about the wood that close to 400 degrees. Why not check into metal 2 x 4s. I know that they are available in 16 and 20 gauge. I think that either of these sizes would be sufficient to support yhe floor. You will have to check at a commercial builder supply house for metal studs, I don't think Lowes or Home Depot carries them.

By the way, that looks like a really good deal on the building.

Leo

[Blademan]

I have five diff ovens in my shop, two are normal ovens the one being a self cleaning oven that i use for reg stuff plus burnin off my hooks on the clean cycle, my good ol toaster oven for doing nuts and bolts, my converted commercial coke a cola cooler and my propane heated converted home oven.....they might not be fancy lookin......but they work and they pay the bills.....

[chicagorich]

I am currently building an oven based on viper56's design 3x3x4, now i'm thinking that it might be to small. I want to increase it to 3x6x4 do you think my two 3100 watt elements will be able to get the temp up to 450? if not whats the biggest size i can go with my 2 3100 watt elements?

[11111111]

with minimal insulation temp is not a problem the bigger units just take longer to reach temp and cycle time on the element is longer. shold work fine. besides thirty amps is a good place to keep the wiring at your house handles that with know problem. the oven is on a 50amp but most everything else is 30amp. and there is room to be above that just be sane.

[kchotboat]

with minimal insulation temp is not a problem the bigger units just take longer to reach temp and cycle time on the element is longer. shold work fine. besides thirty amps is a good place to keep the wiring at your house handles that with know problem. the oven is on a 50amp but most everything else is 30amp. and there is room to be above that just be sane.

Did you get my email?

[chicagorich]

thanks, i have a friend int he hvac industry so i got free sheet metal and some heavy duty industrial oven insulation hopefully that will help. I'm using a 220v on a 60 amp breaker that powers my tig welder so power shouldnt be a problem.