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

[duke]

hmmm-- if it aint one thing it's 40 others

cheers

[Fireblade]

You seem to be going down the same path I did when I tried doing larger and larger parts, HOW in the [email protected] do I fit this in there!!!! Well, if I were you, and if your limited to what you have. You may want to try and fab up some support legs on that bottom rack. Just high enough to keep it off the element. The metal the elements are made out of, even if they have legs, are only meant to hold their own weight, not the weight of a valve cover. If you are like me, later on down the road, you are bound to put something heavier on it and sooner or later, the element is going to bend all out of whack. If you have a welder, you can just weld some bolts or some round stock to the corners. If you don;t have a welder, go to a hardware store and search for some small U-clips that you can bolt around the existing rack and, say a bolt, to firmly hold them in place at the sides. It would be easier this way to slide the rack in with the part on top as well, and eliminate any hot spots due to direct contact with the element itself.

[duke]

thanks for your help fireblade.
my neighbour is a welder
"that's what friends are for"
cheers

[11111111]

I am getting ready to fabricate a custom oven and was planning on installing a few oven elements. Does anyone know of a better element? They seem to work so well and last so long in a range it just seems like the way to go. Also I thought I read somewhere in here that ovens use 110 to operate the elements? I have not checked into this yet but I would think a 220 element would be a lot better (less amp draw and faster warm up). I am also putting a fan inside to circulate the air for a even temp. I see the commercial units use this and it makes a lot of sense. I am planning on building the oven 12ft long, 4 feet tall and 5ft wide this will alloy me to bake my custom exhaust systems and chassis (ceramic coat). In the plans I have drawn I am installing a divider every two feet and a switch for every burner so I can heat only the space I need. I would really like some input from those of you that have built your own ovens. I have a 100amp breaker I am putting in for this so power wont be a problem. also I am planning on a steel oven box with bracing every two feet spot welded to the sheet metal box and 10 inches of insulation around the intire oven. The top is going to be lited by a hand crank winch and cable straight up to the roof to get it out of the way.
Jeff

[Hemi-T]

Just make sure your fan turns veeeeeery sloooooooowwww or you'll blow the powder of your parts before it has a chance to cure

Hemi-T