Small "warm box" for paint drying

[Dragfluid]

Does anyone with a larger shed use a small enclosure for drying/setting up paint/finish/glue on smaller projects, rather than heating up the whole building overnight?
For example, I'm building an urn for my MIL, and it's 17"x10", and I was thinking that there has to be a better way. I'm out in the shed all day for my job, but I'm in a separate office that has its own heat.

Looking for ideas that are efficient and safe.

 

[Skiff Builder]

Visqueen draped over sawhorses with a inc/halogen light bulb of varying wattage.
Old refridge or cooler w/bulb.
Made up box.
etc.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I mounted a cheap light bulb socket on the lid of a plastic tote. Got a cheap thermostat on eBay. A single 100W incandescent bulb is a good heat source.

Set whatever I’m working on the lid and then set the tote over the whole works.

 

[niget2002]

I hung tarps from the ceiling around whatever is drying. I have a 1.5kw oil-filled space heater (no open flame) with a built in thermostat. Put that inside and set it to the temp I wanted the paint to dry at.

 

[Stuart in MN]

It doesn't take much - sometimes if I'm painting something small I'll just put it underneath a desk lamp, and that provides enough heat to dry the paint pretty fast.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have it powder coated rather than painting it ?

 

[Bluedodge]

It is nice of you to make an urn for your MIL's ashes.
Has she already passed away or are you just getting ready?

 

[Lelandwelds]

It is nice of you to make an urn for your MIL's ashes.
Has she already passed away or are you just getting ready?

Lol. Some truths are universal.

I preheat parts to 200°F in a propane oven or a toaster oven to coat with MolyResin. Dries instantly.

 

[cgrutt]

I made a fairly large box that is lined with cement board and uses two hot plates for heating source. Controlled by digital thermostat purchased on ebay. Gets up to about 250 if needed.

 

[Dragfluid]

It is nice of you to make an urn for your MIL's ashes.
Has she already passed away or are you just getting ready?

She passed a week ago Tuesday. She wasn't one of "those" MIL's, LOL!

It's a little bigger than normal. (17x10 1/2") One reason is there's a crucifix that the girls wanted to lay on the top that was fairly large, and I didn't want the ends to hang over the sides. And also, they wanted to put dad in there with her when his time came.

This is before the stain went on.

 

[Ret Nailbender]

I have a friend that uses a old refrigerator with a small light bulb for drying parts. It seems to work good.

 

[4 FN 27]

About 25 years ago my BIL gave me an old electric range. I put it on bake at about 170°and it kicks the paint over in minutes. I also use it to warm up parts before painting after I clean them with solvent.

I put the Range on Casters so I can get it out of the way.

Works great.

 

[southalabama]

I have a buddy doing cerakote. He uses an electric smoker with a digital thermometer.

 

[Dragfluid]

About 25 years ago my BIL gave me an old electric range. I put it on bake at about 170°and it kicks the paint over in minutes. I also use it to warm up parts before painting after I clean them with solvent.

I put the Range on Casters so I can get it out of the way.

Works great.

I've had an electric oven in the Shed from the beginning. Never though of using it for that, I guess. I would be afraid of trying to dry something TOO fast.

 

[4 FN 27]

I've had an electric oven in the Shed from the beginning. Never though of using it for that, I guess. I would be afraid of trying to dry something TOO fast.

You do have to keep an eye on it. In all my years of using this thing I have never "dried" it too fast.

 

[Dragfluid]

You do have to keep an eye on it. In all my years of using this thing I have never "dried" it too fast.

I do want to thank you for that idea of the oven. Since I have until next Saturday for the service, I put another very thin coat on, as I wasn't 100% happy with a few tiny areas. I turned the oven on the warm setting and applied the finish, then went and turned the oven off and placed the box in there. I wanted to do some other work in here today, so it will also act as protection of dust.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

We have 2 "craft" toaster ovens that I have used to force paint to dry on smaller items. I like the tote with a bulb idea - have to think about that.

Cheers

Jim

 

[Dragfluid]

All good ideas, thanks guys.
Now,,,,,,,,,, what temps do you guys use? 4FN27 said 170F? Who knows how hot is too hot, depending on material?

 

[Aaron_W]

For small parts I've heard of people using a food dehydrator. You can use the trays to do a bunch of small parts or remove them to do a few larger parts.

Too small for your box though.

 

[dadsEH]

Large cardboard box with a hole big enough for a hairdryer. Gets super hot.

 

[Dragfluid]

That was nice to keep it in the oven while I worked on some other projects. Took it out this morning and it's great.

 

[4 FN 27]

I do want to thank you for that idea of the oven. Since I have until next Saturday for the service, I put another very thin coat on, as I wasn't 100% happy with a few tiny areas. I turned the oven on the warm setting and applied the finish, then went and turned the oven off and placed the box in there. I wanted to do some other work in here today, so it will also act as protection of dust.

You are welcome.

All good ideas, thanks guys.
Now,,,,,,,,,, what temps do you guys use? 4FN27 said 170F? Who knows how hot is too hot, depending on material?

I have read online some guys bake enamel up to 300°. Not sure if I would go that high. 170° has work for me for many years without disappointment. When I use Krinkle Paints I go to 225°. Keep in mind everything I paint is Metal.

That was nice to keep it in the oven while I worked on some other projects. Took it out this morning and it's great.

Very nice work!!!

 

[Dragfluid]

"Very nice work!!!" - 4FN27

Thank you.

I guess 170F would be fine for wood as well. Auto ignition is somewhere between 550F and 800F. Hard to find a definite answer on that one.

 

[Dragfluid]

The other thing to be aware of is the auto ignition point of whatever you're painting it with. Looking at the MSDS of my MinWax polyurethane, the flash point (needs a ignition source) is 119F, but they don't give the AI (ignites all by itself).

 

[cajunfirehawk]

I picked up an electric smoker on clearance at HD last year on the left side of this pic which is basically an electric oven and I use that for paint curing and other stuff, works great and I can control the temp with the thermostat, I closed off any smoke vent holes...
UPSIDE; My wife doesn't get pissed when I put toxic parts in her open to cure...