Gunsmithing cure oven

I

imonyourcouch

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Feb 15, 2012
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#1
I saw a cerakoted pf9 and I wanted it. I did some research and decided that I could figure this out. I am going to build my own oven. I have some 55 gallon drums around so I thought that I could use that. I then found a dryer heating element in the junk pile. I have searched and I can't find anyone else that has made an oven this way. All of my experience with this comes from making ugly drum smokers.
I have a savage 110 that was given to me that I want to experiment with. I never use this gun. I've loaned it out the last 3 years for deer hunting.


The is 33 inches tall. Is this tall enough?
How far away from the heating element do I need to keep the parts? barreled actions etc.

Is a fan a necessary?

What other important things am I overlooking?


I know this post is probably lacking information, but I don't really know what's useful. Of course I am trying to do this on the cheap, but I would appreciate your opinion as to what is necessary. right now I just have the element on a switch. No automatic temperature controls yet. I am afraid that will kill my budget quickly since I still need to buy a spray gun and a blaster.
 
#3
Re: cure oven

Thanks Wade.

That's a great thread. I had read that one. I didn't want to dirty up their thread.

I decided to throw everything together. I am having some heat distribution problems, and it just plain isn't getting hot enough. Yet. I have some pictures of my setup that I will upload soon. The highest I have hit so far is 242 at the top of the barrel, but the bottom is much lower. I am thinking I need something just above the element to diffuse and hold the heat.
 
#4
Re: cure oven

You need an internal fan to circulate the heat, with the fan placed at the top of the oven. I built my own oven and it is quite a project. Great to have a Dad who is an electrician.I built mine out of a cheap gun safe and insulated the walls. The dimensions are approx. 30'x60". I am using (2) 1500 watt elements for heating with a thermostat and it works quite good. You definitely need to insulate the walls to retain heat. Good luck with your project. Paul.
grin.gif
 
#5
Re: cure oven

I use a pair of 500w halogen bulbs. They are mounted at the floor of a cheap gun safe I bought from Menards. Lined with foil backed foam to insulate.

320F all day long. Didn't need a fan. I have 3x thermometers and they all read within 10F of each other.

Wired rheostats on the lights.

Only gripe is size. I need a bigger oven now. Looking online at govt auctions. They occassionally have HUGE food warming ovens for sale. 400F capacity. Buddy bought one and turned it into a smoker for meat.

C.
 
#7
Re: cure oven

I did the same as Chad did. Works very well but have the same problem as him. MORE ROOM
smile.gif
it is a little small but works very very well. I had the fab shop line it with 14 gauge sheet metal. My lights are also mounted a little high I need to drop them down more.

Heres a pic

 
#8
Re: cure oven

I have made some modifications to my oven. I will get some pictures up as soon as i get back in the house. I have a question about insulation now. I read that I can use figerglass insulation as long as its not backed. Does that sound right?
 
#9
Re: cure oven

I made my oven from a donor high school locker. I added insulation and another inside wall of stainless steel. My heat source is a Walmart $7 hot plate with the thermostat removed sitting on fire bricks in the bottom. I have mine wired into a process controller with relay. I have run it up to $400 and the outside wall is still touch safe. No fan in mine either. A simple rod through the cab is my hanger with fixed and swivel hooks. I also mounted a light I had laying around. It help to have good light when you are spraying.

It's not pretty and you can see my air brush spray patterns all over it when I set my spray gun. It's big enough for my use and take up little floor space. Works well for a spare key vault....

Oven1.jpg


Oven4.jpg


Oven3.jpg


Oven2.jpg
 
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